Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a small range and its forested habitat is declining as a result of widespread clearance for agricultural purposes. Tree cover loss has been accelerating rapidly in recent years. For these reasons, the species is listed as Vulnerable.
Population justification
The species is described as locally abundant (Sharpe and Lentino 2015). It has been found at densities of 60-270 individuals/km2 (Sharpe and Lentino 2015 and references therein). Assuming that this density is representative for the entire range, and further assuming that only 10% of forests within the range are occupied to account for the localised distribution (i.e., c.200 km2; Global Forest Watch 2021), the population may number 12,000-54,000 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The species is suspected to be declining as a consequence of the loss and fragmentation of its forested habitat (Greeney 2020). Within the range, tree cover is lost at a rate of up to 7% over ten years; forest loss has been accelerating rapidly since 2016 (Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). The species is restricted to humid montane forests and its tolerance to disturbance is not known (Greeney 2020). Tentatively, the rate of population decline is therefore placed in the band 1-19% over ten years.
Grallaricula cumanensis is endemic to the mountains of north-eastern Venezuela. It occurs disjunctly on the Paria Peninsula, Sucre (subspecies pariae), and in the Turimiquire Massif (both the Serranía de Turimiquire west of the San Antonio valley, and the Cordillera de Caripe to the east) on the borders of Sucre, Anzoategui and Monagas (subspecies cumanensis).
It inhabits the understorey (up to 2-3 m from the ground) of montane humid forest, where there is extensive epiphytic growth. In the Serranía de Turimiquire, it is known from 1,000-1,850 m. On Cerro Humo, it occurs at 1,100-1,200 m and, on Cerro El Olvido, at 600-885 m.
There has been widespread clearance for agriculture in the Turimiquire Massif and the Paria Peninsula and both regions are considered highly threatened. Swidden agriculture and commercial coffee cultivation occur within strict protected areas: even in El Guácharo National Park there is clearance, repeated burning and understorey removal for coffee (Boesman and Curson 1995, Sharpe and Lentino 2015). The slopes of Cerro Negro are largely bare with the more obvious forest patches actually shade-coffee plantations (Boesman and Curson 1995). There is conversion to coffee, mango, banana, and citrus plantations in the Turimiquire Massif, but extensive forested areas remain (Colvee 1999, C. J. Sharpe in litt. 2011). On Cerro Humo, increases in cash-crop agriculture since the mid- to late 1980s have resulted in uncontrolled burning and forest degradation.
Conservation Actions Underway
It is formally protected by Paria Peninsula and El Guácharo National Parks. The former has become a "paper park" with only few park guards, inadequate budget and no means of transport (Sharpe 2001, Castillo and Salas 2005, Sharpe and Lentino 2015). The Turimiquire massif is a Protective Zone, but in practice the legal status is not enforced.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey to better quantify the population size. Research into the species' ecology and behaviour. Investigate the species' tolerance to forest degradation and disturbance. Monitor the population trend. Monitor rates of habitat loss.
Protect areas of suitable habitat within the range. Sustainably manage forests in the Turimiquire massif and on Paria Peninsula. Develop alternative agricultural techniques for areas adjacent to Paria Peninsula National Park (Sharpe and Lentino 2015).
10.9 cm. Small antpitta with slate-grey crown, medium brown upperparts, and rufous underparts. Prominent buff lores and posterior eye-ring. Underparts rufous-orange, paler on throat, with white centre of belly. Similar spp. Slate-crowned Antpitta G. nana (allopatric) has paler, less intensely rufous underparts, less conspicuously white belly and different song. Allopatric Rusty-breasted Antpitta G. ferrugineipectus lacks grey crown and is paler below with a strikingly different song. Voice A long trill that ascends and then descends
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Donegan, T., Sharpe, C J & Symes, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Sucre Antpitta Grallaricula cumanensis. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sucre-antpitta-grallaricula-cumanensis on 21/12/2024.
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 21/12/2024.