• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has a small population and it consequently qualifies as Vulnerable.

Population justification
Preliminary estimates report a population size of 500 mature individuals (Aponte et al. 2017). The distribution range is however not well known, and the population may be considerably larger, if the species's range proves to be more expansive than thought.

Trend justification
The species is well adapted to secondary habitats and human disturbance, but is threatened by the loss of secondary thickets through forest regeneration. The population is tentatively assessed as stable, but this requires confirmation.

Hylopezus auricularis is currently known from a small area in the lower río Beni drainage, north Bolivia. Four specimens were collected at Victoria, Pando, in 1937, one was observed between Lago Tumi Chucua and the río Beni in 1976, it was tape-recorded at Remanso on the río Madre de Dios in 1991 (S. Mayer in litt. 2004) and it was frequently seen near Riberalta, on the east bank of the río Beni, Beni, in 1994, where a specimen was collected in 1995 (Maijer 1998), with another three obtained at nearby Hamburgo in 1998 (Maillard et al. 2008). In 2012-2013 there were a number of unpublished sightings from the Hamburgo-Riberalta area (eBird 2016). A pair was observed foraging at a sixth locality near Las Piedras, between the río Beni and Puerto Gonzalo Moreno, Pando in September 2001 (Maillard et al. 2008).

The species occurs in low-lying, muddy forest and thickets (Maijer 1998). It prefers degraded and secondary habitats and may be tolerant of anthropogenic disturbance (Aponte et al. 2017). Many records are from thickets adjacent to open areas and pastures (Maijer 1998; Aponte et al. 2017). The site near Riberalta is a matrix of clay-pits (for brick-making), grassy open spaces and low secondary forest.

The species prefers secondary, degraded vegetation (Maijer 1998; Aponte et al. 2017) and as such, it is threatened by the succession of secondary growth into mature forest.

Conservation Actions Underway
It is considered Critically Endangered (non-IUCN criteria) at the national level in Bolivia (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Agua 2009). No targeted actions are is known.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Quantify the population size. Use satellite imagery or vegetation maps to identify potential habitat (Aponte et al. 2017). Survey suitable habitat along the Beni and Madre de Dios rivers to locate new populations, particularly during the breeding season in September-February (S. Mayer in litt. 1999; Aponte et al. 2017). Monitor the population trend. Conduct research into the species's ecology (S. Mayer in litt. 1999). Protect areas of dynamic floodplain forests (Aponte et al. 2017). Designate a protected area for the species (J. Hornbuckle in litt. 1999).

14 cm. Smallish, masked antpitta. Grey crown. Dark mask, white lores, broad black stripes bordering white throat. Light brownish-olive upperparts, paler uppertail-coverts. Dusky flight feathers edged ochraceous-olive, orangey-bronze wing-coverts. Rufescent tail. Creamy-white breast streaked black. Streaks become olive-brown on sides of largely white belly, warm-buff undertail-coverts. Voice Slow, trilling song, slightly descending series of hollow and high-pitched cu notes. Call is swift succession of 2-3 melodious notes fuí notes, followed by short, lower-pitched cuu. Also single cuiu call.

Text account compilers
Hermes, C.

Contributors
Capper, D., Hornbuckle, J., Mayer, S., Pople, R., Sharpe, C.J., Stuart, T. & Symes, A.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Masked Antpitta Hylopezus auricularis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/masked-antpitta-hylopezus-auricularis on 24/12/2024.
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 24/12/2024.