Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is known from a small area, in which its preferred habitat is highly modified and degraded. Its known population is extremely small and declining, and all subpopulations are smaller than 50 individuals. The species is therefore classified as Critically Endangered.
Population justification
Surveys between 2004 and 2008 recorded 77 individuals. Further records suggest that the population may number up to 250 individuals (S. Valderrama in litt. 2010; Renjifo et al. 2016). This roughly equates to 160-170 mature individuals.
Observational records suggest that the species forms several small subpopulations (eBird 2021); it is tentatively assumed that no subpopulation contains more than 50 mature individuals (Renjifo et al. 2016).
Trend justification
The species is suspected to be in decline owing to forest conversion for agricultural purposes. It has been estimated that the species has already lost almost 95% of its original habitat (Renjifo et al. 2016). Between 2001 and 2011, c. 14% of its habitat has been lost (Renjifo et al. 2016). Assuming that habitat loss is continuing at the same rate to the present day and that population declines are roughly equivalent to the rate of forest loss, the species may have declined by 10-19% over the past ten years.
Thryophilus nicefori occurs on the western slope of the East Andes in Colombia. The only known site was the type-locality at San Gil on the río Fonce south of Bucaramanga, where ten specimens were collected between 1944 and 1948 (Renjifo et al. 2002). There were no further records until two birds were observed and recorded in 1989, and then again in 2000 (Renjifo et al. 2002). Subsequently it has been recorded in Soata, Boyacá, c. 100 km south and in the Yariguíes mountains 50 km to the west (Balchin 2007), and was then found in the municipalities of Curiti, Zapatoca, Barichara, Jordan, Galan, Socorro and Floridablanca, Santander (Parra et al. 2006). A 2008 survey in the department of Santander discovered a small population, which is now protected by the Niceforo's Wren Natural Bird Reserve. In addition, it was recorded at Tipacoque, Susacon, Guacamayas, El Espino, Santa Rosa de Viterbo and Capitanejo (O. Cortes in litt. 2012). The species may persist in further localities in Santander, Cesar and Norte de Santander (Renjifo et al. 2016).
The species occurs in the undergrowth of dry forest at 1,100-2,100 m, and its presence was found to be significantly correlated with that of Tricanthera gigantea, Acacia farnesiana, Sapindus saponaria and Pithecellobium dulce (O. Cortes in litt. 2007, 2012; Renjifo et al. 2016). It has also been recorded along the edges of shaded coffee and cacao plantations (Valderrama et al. 2007, O. Cortes in litt. 2012). Territories are located along water courses where vegetation is dense and perennial; territories extend over 1-4 ha (Renjifo et al. 2016). Structural variables like abundance of lianas, trees and leaf litter are important components of its habitat (Parra et al. 2010). It constructs an elongated nest in close association with wasps' nests (Valderrama et al. 2007). Nests have been noted in hedges in agricultural lands (O. Cortes in litt. 2012).
Being a habitat specialist, the most severe threat to the species is the destruction of its habitat (Renjifo et al. 2016). Suitable forests within the range are converted and degraded through the expansion of cultivated areas, goat grazing, burning for agriculture and the drying of rivers and quebradas (O. Cortes in litt. 2012; Renjifo et al. 2016). In large parts of the range, Tricanthera woodlands are now fragmented and restricted to steep slopes inaccessible for agriculture (O. Cortes in litt. 2012). Areas grazed by goats are devoid of the species due to a lack of dense understorey and leaf litter (S. Valderrama in litt. 2008, 2010).
Conservation and Research Actions Underway
The species is protected by the Yariguíes National Park (O. Cortes in litt. 2012). Project Chicamocha has been working for the conservation of Niceforo’s Wren since 2004 (M. Beltrán in litt. 2012). In 2009, Niceforo's Wren Natural Bird Reserve was established by Project Chicamocha in Zapatoca, Santander. Run by Fundación ProAves, the reserve comprises 1,400 ha of the species's tropical dry forest habitat (M. Beltrán in litt. 2012). Project Chicamocha has subsequently been carrying out research on the effects of territory size and habitat quality in the physical condition of Niceforo’s Wren (Parra et al. 2010). Fundación Conserva is updating the geographical distribution and population size of Niceforo’s Wren and searching for new areas for its protection (M. Beltrán in litt. 2012). Surveys have been conducted to search for the species in a number of new areas, and more are planned for the future. In 2014 the Niceforo's Wren Natural Bird Reserve was registered as a natural reserve of the Civil Society and is now part of the National System of Protected Areas (ProAves 2014).
15 cm. Medium-sized, rufous-and-white wren. Olive-brown crown to upper back. Rest of upperparts rufous-brown giving two-toned appearance. Prominent white superciliary. Black barred tail and wings. Black-and-white streaked sides of head. White underparts with pale greyish-brown flanks and sides. Black barred crissum. Similar species Rufous-and-white Wren (T. rufalbus) has uniform bright rufous upperparts. Voice Similar to T. rufalbus. Several low-pitched, slow, mellow, bouncing whistles, preceded by higher notes.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Beltrán, M., Bird, J., Calvert, R., Cortés, O., Isherwood, I., Pople, R., Salaman, P.G.W., Sharpe, C.J., Stiles, F.G., Stuart, T., Symes, A., Taylor, J., Valderrama, S., Westrip, J.R.S. & Wright, L
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Niceforo's Wren Thryophilus nicefori. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/niceforos-wren-thryophilus-nicefori 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.