Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has been uplisted to Vulnerable due to an inferred continued decline as a result of ongoing habitat clearance for agriculture and pressure from hunting. Its population size additionally remains small across the species's restricted range, in which all mature individuals are thought to occur in the same subpopulation.
Population justification
The species is rare and difficult to observe (N. Zhotso in litt. 2020, A. Choudhury in litt. 2020). The population is thus thought to number as low as 2,500-4,000 adult individuals (A. Meyase in litt. 2020). However, as it is known to occur outside primary forests, the population is thought to number fewer than 10,000 mature individuals in any case. The species is therefore tentatively placed in the band 2,500-9,999 mature individuals. Even though forest logging and the spread of agriculture may potentially start affecting the species's population structure (J. Praveen in litt. 2019), it is currently assumed that all individuals belong to the same subpopulation. However, increased rarity of the species due to ongoing threats, and assuming the population is closer to the lower estimate, the species may warrant further uplisting in the future.
Trend justification
The population trend for this species has not been directly estimated. It is however considered to be undergoing a continued decline owing to habitat loss. Deforestation data from between 2000 and 2012 (Tracewski et al. 2016) previously estimated that the area of forested habitat within the species’s range was on average declining by c. 3% over three generations (10 years; Bird et al. 2020). More recent estimates measured between 2000 and 2019 however show that tree loss is higher, at c. 9.3% over three generations (Global Forest Watch 2020). Even though Naga Wren-babbler may tolerate some forest fragmentation, which may indicate that rates of decline could be lower than that of forest loss, it is assumed that pressures from hunting and trapping may exacerbate this. Therefore, the population is thought to be declining at a rate of 5-15% over three generations.
Spelaeornis chocolatinus occurs in the states of Nagaland and north Manipur in north-eastern India. It is endemic to a restricted range, where it is scarce and occurring over suitable altitudes only (A. Meyase in litt. 2020), but is likely at least locally common. For instance, above Khonoma Village, 25 individuals were recorded in one day in 2007 (J. Eaton in litt. 2007).
The species inhabits montane broadleaved evergreen forests at 1,200-3,100 m. It requires a densely vegetated, bushy undergrowth, e.g. of bracken, ferns or Strobilanthes, green moss, thick thorny bushes, briars and dwarf bamboo. It seems to prefer primary forest over secondary growth (J. Praveen in litt. 2019), but is often found at forest edges and in clearings. Being solitary, it does not participate in flocking, and is occasionally found in pairs (A. Meyase in litt. 2020). The species feeds on ants, small beetles and other insects (Collar and Robson 2020).
Although it is not strictly dependent on forest, the species is affected by logging and clearance of forest for small-scale agriculture. Slash-and-burn cultivation in areas of montane forests poses a severe threat to the species (R. K. Birjit Singh in litt. 2019, J. Praveen in litt. 2019, A. Choudhury in litt. 2020). The species may also be trapped due to its close proximity to moist ravines on the outskirts of villages, as well as being hunted by local pets (A. Meyase in litt. 2020). It is also likely to face disturbance by birdwatchers due to use of playback calls and photography (A. Meyase in litt. 2020).
Conservation Actions Underway
No targeted conservation actions are known for this species.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Study its ecological requirements and its tolerance of habitat degradation. Monitor trends in habitat loss in its small range. Protect large areas of suitable habitat at key sites, in both strictly protected areas and community-managed multiple use areas.
Identification. Small, 86-100 cm. Dark brown; prominent white shaft-streaks on flanks; brown below with fine black flecks below throat; scaled with fine black marks on fulvous underparts. Male has broadly white throat through centre of belly and dark brown sides. Female is richer rufous-chestnut than male, especially below. Juvenile is more rufous above without scaling and is solidly brighter rufous below. Similar species. Tawny-breasted and Grey-bellied Wren-babbler which have shorter tails than Naga. Naga is less strongly scaled than the Grey-bellied Wren-babbler.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C., Martin, R., Fernando, E.
Contributors
Birjit Singh, R., Choudhury, A., Eaton, J., Mahood, S., Meyase, A., Praveen, J., Taylor, J. & Zhotso, N.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Naga Wren-babbler Spelaeornis chocolatinus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/naga-wren-babbler-spelaeornis-chocolatinus on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.