Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size may be moderately small to large, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The species is described as rare (Stotz et al. 1996). Based on the extent of suitable habitat, the population along the río Tambopata was estimated at 86-515 territories, with the true number likely closer to the lower end of the band (Kratter 1995). Extrapolating this to the currently known distribution suggests a population of at least 10,000 territories (Kratter 2020). This equates to at least 20,000 mature individuals, and therefore the population is here placed in the band 20,000-49,999 mature individuals.
Trend justification
There are no data on the population trend, but ongoing habitat loss and degradation is suspected to negatively impact the population. Over three generations (10.2 years), 7% of tree cover is lost within the range (Global Forest Watch 2023, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Even though the species appears able to tolerate some habitat disturbance, it has very specific requirements for floodplain forests in close proximity to rivers (Kratter 2020). Therefore, population declines may be steeper than the rate of tree cover loss suggests. Tentatively, population declines are here placed in the band 10-19% over three generations.
Formicarius rufifrons occurs in southwestern Amazonia, with records from southeastern Peru along the río Madre de Dios and its tributaries, in Bolivia along the río Tahuamanu in Pando, and in southern Acre, Brazil, along the río Acre.
This species inhabits riverine floodplain thickets, where tall forest with shaded understorey lies adjacent to second-growth vegetation with a dense understorey of, for example, Guadua bamboo or Heliconia (Kratter 1995, Schulenberg et al. 2007). Most records are from areas near forest edge or disturbed zones, including river erosion, tree-fall gaps and logged areas, usually within 1.2 kilometres away from a river (Kratter 2020). Otherwise, its ecology remains largely unknown.
The species is threatened by the loss and conversion of its habitat for human settlements and agricultural developments. Encroachment is particularly severe along rivers, e.g. near Puerto Maldonado and in southern Acre (Kratter 2020, Global Forest Watch 2023). Gold mining and associated loss and degradation of forests is ongoing in parts of the range, particularly in Peru (B. Phalan in litt. 2023). However, large tracts of undisturbed habitat remains within the range further away from settlements (Global Forest Watch 2022). Moreover, small-scale clearance of riverine forests may benefit the species by creating its preferred mosaic of open and forested habitat (Kratter 2020).
Conservation Actions Underway
Significant populations are protected within Manu National Park and Tambopata National Reserve, Peru. It is listed as Near Threatened at the national level in Peru (SERFOR 2018).
18 cm. A dark brown hen-like terrestrial bird. Upperparts rich brown with orange-rufous forecrown. More rufescent on uppertail-coverts. Underparts sooty grey, browner on lower belly. Dark cocked tail. Similar spp. Black-faced Antthrush F. analis has a black area around throat, lacks the rufous front and has black, instead of cinnamon-rufous underwing-coverts. Voice The song is a rising and then falling series of clear, monotonic whistles of c.5 seconds. Hints Very hard to see, best located by voice.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Butchart, S., Gerhart, N., Gilroy, J., Jammes, L., Lees, A., Lloyd, H., Phalan, B., Schulenberg, T. & Sharpe, C.J.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Rufous-fronted Antthrush Formicarius rufifrons. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/rufous-fronted-antthrush-formicarius-rufifrons on 23/11/2024.
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 23/11/2024.