• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

Red List criteria met

Critically Endangered	Endangered	Vulnerable
-	-	-

Red List history

Year	Category	Criteria
2022	Near Threatened	B1b(iii)
2016	Vulnerable	B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v);C2a(i)
2012	Vulnerable	B1ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v);C2a(i)
2008	Vulnerable	B1a+b(i,ii,iii,iv,v); C2a(i)
2004	Vulnerable
2000	Vulnerable
1996	Vulnerable
1994	Vulnerable
1988	Threatened

Migratory status	not a migrant	Forest dependency	high
Land-mass type	continent	Average mass	-

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident)	6,700 km2	medium
Severely fragmented?	no	-

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
Population size	2500-9999 mature individuals	poor	suspected	2000
Population trend	decreasing	poor	suspected	2016-2026
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	1-10,5-10%	-	-	-
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	5-10%	-	-	-
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	5-10%	-	-	-
Generation length	2.5 years	-	-	-
Number of subpopulations	2-100	-	-	-

Population justification: The population is suspected to number 2,500-9,999 mature individuals based on an assessment of known records, descriptions of abundance and range size, however this requires survey-evidenced confirmation. There is c.1,500 km² of forest left in this species' range, excluding plantations (Global Forest Watch [2021] using data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). No density has been recorded for this species or its congeners, however it is provisionally suspected that the species may number fewer than 10,000 mature individuals. The number of subpopulations has not been accurately estimated, however population has become somewhat fragmented and this species likely has a poor ability to disperse; artificial habitat fragmentation is therefore considered likely to have introduced novel population structure.

Trend justification: A slow decline is suspected due to ongoing forest loss (Global Forest Watch [2021] based on Hansen et al. [2013]), although there is much uncertainty at the rate of this decline given this species’ ability to survive outside forest; indeed it is conceivable that habitat may have increased in some areas with cutting of forest, but studies needed to determine true degree of independence from forest.

Country/Territory	Presence	Origin	Resident	Breeding visitor	Non-breeding visitor	Passage migrant
India	extant	native	yes

Country/Territory	IBA Name
India	Jatinga
India	Mawphlang Sacred Grove
India	Norpuh Reserve Forests
India	Upper Shillong

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Forest	Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane	major	resident
Altitude	1000 - 2000 m	Occasional altitudinal limits

Threat (level 1)	Threat (level 2)	Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture	Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Shifting agriculture	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 6
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 6
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest]	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Minority (<50%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Low Impact: 5
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest]	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 6
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation

---

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Tawny-breasted Wren-babbler Spelaeornis longicaudatus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/tawny-breasted-wren-babbler-spelaeornis-longicaudatus 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.