Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is classified as Near Threatened as it is is likely to be undergoing a moderately rapid population reduction owing to continuing deforestation within its range.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as scarce and relatively little known (Clement 1999).
Trend justification
The species is likely to be declining at a moderately rapid rate, owing habitat loss and degradation.
Parmoptila rubrifrons, which was formerly considered conspecific with Jameson's Antpecker P. jamesoni, appears to have a rather fragmented range in West Africa, with isolated sub-populations occurring in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. There is also a single record of two individuals obtained at Misséni, southwest Mali (Fry and Keith 2004). It is uncommon in Taï National Park (Côte d'Ivoire), in Gola Forest (Sierra Leone) (E. Klop in litt. 2007) and in a number of protected areas in Ghana (Subri River Forest Reserve, Kakum National Park, Ankasa National Park and Tano Offin Forest Reserve) (A. Augustus in litt. 2007), although it seems to be fairly common in Liberia. Its unobtrusive habits may mean that it is often overlooked, but mist-netting data indicates that it is genuinely scarce (H. Rainey in litt. 2007).
It occurs in lowland tropical moist forest, and shows a preference for primary forest (H. Rainey in litt. 2007). In the Gola rain forest it has been recorded in the understorey of primary and secondary forest, usually near water (E. Klop in litt. 2016). Nest building has been recorded in early December (E. Klop in litt. 2016).
Its range is already fragmented, and ongoing logging and clearance of forest for agriculture are likely to drive population declines.
Conservation Actions Underway
It occurs in a number of protected areas.
Identification. Adult male, forehead and forecrown bright red, nape, neck and side of face olive brown spotted or streaked with white. Upper parts olive brown. White under chin, rest of underside chestnut brown. Adult female, dark brown above, the crown with pale feather tips and forehead rufous brown. Underside white or cream with dark brown feather tips especially on the breast. Voice. no record.
Text account compilers
Mahood, S., Symes, A. & Westrip, J.
Contributors
Asamoah, A., Klop, E. & Rainey, H.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Red-fronted Antpecker Parmoptila rubrifrons. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/red-fronted-antpecker-parmoptila-rubrifrons on 30/12/2024.
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 30/12/2024.