Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This poorly known species is likely to be declining moderately rapidly overall, as a result of habitat loss and degradation in large parts of its range, although the effects of these changes are unclear, and may vary regionally. It is currently considered Near Threatened.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as locally numerous in the Indus floodplain in Pakistan and locally frequent in parts of India (del Hoyo et al. 2006), while it is evidently very scarce and localised in other areas (e.g. J. Eaton in litt. 2010, R. K. Das in litt. 2011).
Trend justification
A moderately rapid and on-going decline is suspected, owing to habitat loss and degradation.
Laticilla burnesii appears to have two disjunct populations, with subspecies burnesii in the plains of the Indus in Pakistan and adjacent north-west India, and subspecies nepalicola, discovered in April 2005 and restricted to islands in the Koshi River in the south-eastern Terai of Nepal (Baral et al. 2007), although birds in Bihar (India) may also belong to this subspecies (T. Inskipp in litt. 2012). The population in Pakistan and north-west India is locally common or abundant in its restricted habitat in the Punjab and northern Sind, much less so in southern Sind, and the eastern population was also formerly locally common, but with few recent published records. The population in Nepal (subspecies nepalicola) was estimated at c.500 birds in 2007, although flooding in 2008 may have impacted its habitat and so further surveys are recommended (Inskipp et al. 2016, C. Inskipp and H. Baral in litt. 2011).
This species is found in long grasslands, sometimes where mixed with acacias and tamarisks, mainly in the vicinity of large rivers and their tributaries and in swamps. In Pakistan and north-west India, subspecies burnseii is able to utilise some agricultural habitats, occurring around lakes, irrigation channels and watercourses. The spread of these habitats has apparently allowed it to colonise new areas. In Nepal, subspecies nepalicola is known to inhabit grassland patches of about five years of age, and is absent from heavily disturbed grasslands (C. Inskipp and H. Baral in litt. 2011).
The destruction and modification of grassland and wetland habitats for agricultural development is on-going throughout the species's range. The effects of these changes are unclear - populations in Pakistan and India (burnesii) are apparently able to tolerate some agricultural habitats. The known population of subspecies nepalicola may have suffered habitat alteration caused by severe monsoon flooding in 2008 (Inskipp et al. 2016, C. Inskipp and H. Baral in litt. 2011) and is severely threatened by the loss of its grassland habitat (Inskipp et al. 2016).
Conservation Actions Underway
The species occurs in a number of protected areas, including the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in Nepal (Baral et al. 2007).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct surveys within the species's range to determine its current distribution, local abundance, total population size and population trends. Monitor rates of habitat loss and degradation throughout its range. Conduct ecological studies to improve understanding of its precise habitat requirements, with a particular focus on levels of tolerance of secondary habitats. Effectively protect significant areas of suitable habitat at key sites, in both strictly protected areas and community-led multiple use areas.
Text account compilers
Benstead, P., Gilroy, J., Taylor, J. & Westrip, J.
Contributors
Baral, H., Das, K., Eaton, J., Inskipp, C., Inskipp, T., Thompson, P. & Wilson, D.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Rufous-vented Grass-babbler Laticilla burnesii. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/rufous-vented-grass-babbler-laticilla-burnesii 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.