Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is confined to a small range in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Forest loss within the range has been low over the past ten years and consequently, the population is here assessed as stable. Despite some habitat fragmentation, the population cannot be considered as severely fragmented, nor is the species restricted to a low number of locations. The species therefore approaches but does not meet the threshold for listing as threatened; it is therefore evaluated as Near Threatened.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as fairly common and locally frequent (Stotz et al. 1996; Restall et al. 2006).
Trend justification
This population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines. Tree cover loss within the range has been minimal, amounting to 1% over the past ten years (Global Forest Watch 2021).
The species is endemic to Colombia. It occurs in a small range in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta between 2,000 and 3,660 m, in higher altitudes than the Santa Marta Tapaculo (Scytalopus sanctaemartae).
The species occupies dense undergrowth and tangled thickets in humid montane forest and tall secondary woodland (Krabbe and Schulenberg 2020).
The species is affected by forest loss, fragmentation and deterioration throughout its restricted range. Only 15% of the original vegetation in its stronghold in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta remains (L. M. Renjifo pers. comm. 1993, 2000). However, forest loss has been very low in recent years (Global Forest Watch 2021) and the species also occurs in secondary woodland (Krabbe and Schulenberg 2020). It is possible that the species is threatened by climate change and undergoing a range shift, as it is the case for many other range-restricted species endemic to the Santa Marta mountains (Velásquez-Tibatá et al. 2012), but this has not been investigated yet.
Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs in two protected areas, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park and the El Dorado Nature Reserve owned by Fundación ProAves.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey to produce an exact estimate of the population size. Localise new populations. Monitor the population trend. Monitor rates of habitat loss. Investigate possible impacts of climate change on the population and distribution range.
13 cm. A medium-sized tapaculo with brownish-grey back, wings and tail. The rump and uppertail-coverts are tawny-brown; chin and belly are pale grey; flanks and lower belly bright rufous-chestnut with blackish bars. Similar spp Very similar in appearance to a number of other tapaculos, but these do not occur within its range. Voice Male song is a long sequence of single notes, followed by a rapid trill; nasal, high-pitched call.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C., Martin, R., Wheatley, H.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Ekstrom, J., Renjifo, L.M. & Westrip, J.R.S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Brown-rumped Tapaculo Scytalopus latebricola. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/brown-rumped-tapaculo-scytalopus-latebricola on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.