Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (extent of occurrence <20,000 km2 or area of occupancy <2,000 km2, combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as common (del Hoyo et al. 2007). The species is suspected to be declining (State of India's Birds 2020a). However, the rate of this decline is uncertain, as it is based on the likelihood of birdwatchers recording the species and is not directly related to abundance of the species. Between May 2013 and May 2019 (when more information is available via eBird in India [Vishwanathan et al. 2020 in State of India's Birds 2020a]) the percentage change in median reporting frequency has been approximately -8% (State of India's Birds 2020b), equivalent to c. 13 % over ten years, however the confidence interval overlaps with zero, such that no significant trend can be inferred. On a precautionary basis, the species is suspected to be undergoing a slow population reduction.
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and fragmentation, however rates of each have been minimal in the past decade within the range of the species (Global Forest Watch 2021). The median rate of the decline inferred from the frequency of reporting on eBird checklists (State of India's Birds 2020a) is equivalent to c. 13% over ten years (State of India's Birds 2020b). However the confidence interval of this trend overlaps with zero, hence cannot be inferred to be a population reduction at this rate. It is, on a precautionary basis, suspected that the population is declining at a slow to moderate rate.
The species occurs in the Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka. State of India's Birds (2020b) estimated the occupied area of the range to be 95,812 km2, though this was not calculated at a scale of 2 x 2 km grid squares (State of India's Birds 2020a). The Extent of Occurrence, using a minimum convex polygon around confirmed and probable occurrence polygons based on occurrence points (GBIF.org 2021) is estimated at 401,900 km2.
Lives in groups, often in association with other babblers, staying close to ground level in dense and often tangled vegetation. Occurs where such dense growth is found, not a species of forest interior but found in clearings in forest, secondary growth, marshy jungle, overgrown plantations and wet thickets (Collar and Robson 2021). Cardamom cultivation and cane brakes are suitable, and it can be found in reedbeds and bamboo-jungle. Occurs mostly above 600 m, up to 1,800 m in India and 2,100 m in Sri Lanka (Collar and Robson 2021).
Text account compilers
Martin, R.
Contributors
Ekstrom, J. & Butchart, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Dark-fronted Babbler Dumetia atriceps. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/dark-fronted-babbler-dumetia-atriceps 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.