Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a moderately small population, which is known from a limited number of scattered sites. Even though the species is being discovered at additional localities, a lack of recent records from previously occupied sites in parts of the range indicate an ongoing population decline. Habitat loss is currently slow, but may accelerate in the future. The species is therefore listed as Near Threatened.
Population justification
The population size has not been quantified, but the species is apparently rare, though it may be easily overlooked. It is precautionarily suspected that the global population numbers between 10,000 and 19,999 mature individuals. A precise estimate of the population size is urgently required.
Trend justification
The population trend has not been assessed directly, but the population is thought to be declining in line with rates of habitat loss within its range, which becomes evident in a lack of recent records from the Venezuelan part of the range (Sharpe 2015, Greeney 2020). Over the past ten years, 3% of tree cover has been lost within the range (Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Therefore, even though the species is strictly dependent on forests, it is unlikely that population declines exceeded 10% over this period. Projections of future deforestation in the Colombian part of the range however suggest that habitat loss may increase in the near future, and that suitable habitat might decline by 27% between 2015 and 2040 (Negret et al. 2021). This equates to a rate of habitat loss of 12% over the next ten years. Consequently, population declines may likewise accelerate in the future; they are therefore here placed in the band 1-19% over the next ten years.
Grallaricula cucullata is known from a few scattered localities in Colombia and west Venezuela. The nominate subspecies occurs in Colombia on both slopes of the West Andes in Valle del Cauca, Cauca, Risaralda and Antioquia. On the west slope of the Central Andes, it is found in Quindío and Caldas. At the head of the Magdalena valley, all recent records are from Cueva de los Guácharos National Park, Huila. The distribution may however be continuous as new localities in intervening areas are being discovered (e.g. Marín-Gómez et al. 2015). Known sites for the subspecies venezuelana are are on the east slope of the East Andes in east Cundinamarca, Colombia. Apart from specimens from Río Chiquito in Táchira, there are apparently no recent records in Venezuela (Sharpe 2015).
It inhabits the undergrowth of dense cloud-forest, chiefly around 1,600-2,250 m, but perhaps down to 1,500 m and up to 2,700 m. Its habitat preferences are not well known, but it appears to avoid converted habitats (Greeney 2020). One specimen was coming into breeding condition in May, and others taken in Huila in July and Antioquia in September contained eggs.
The species is threatened by the conversion of its forested habitat as a consequence of human settlement, logging and expansion of agricultural land. In many areas, including Medellín and the upper Magdalena valley in Colombia, large areas of forest have already been cleared. Human development of land continues, generally following the construction of new roads, and even affects national parks, including Tatamá and El Tamá. Opium poppy cultivation results in deforestation of remote areas, chosen to avoid detection (P. G. W. Salaman in litt. 1995, 1999).
Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs in several protected areas within its range, including Cueva de los Guácheros, Tatamá, Picachos and possibly Farallones de Cali national parks in Colombia, and El Tamá National Park in Venezuela. It is no longer considered of conservation concern in Colombia (Renjifo et al. 2014), but is listed as Endangered in Venezuela (Sharpe 2015).
10 cm. Small, plump antpitta with bright orange bill. Bright orange-rufous head and throat. Olive-brown above. Grey below with narrow white crescent across chest. White belly and lower breast. Voice Unknown.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Beltrán, W., Benstead, P., Downing, C., Gomez, N., Hickman, J., Isherwood, I., Rodríguez, J.-P., Rojas, V., Rojas-Suárez, F., Salaman, P.G.W., Sharpe, C J, Silva, L.L., Stiles, F.G., Stuart, T. & Symes, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Hooded Antpitta Grallaricula cucullata. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/hooded-antpitta-grallaricula-cucullata 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.