LC
Tawny Tit-spinetail Sylviorthorhynchus yanacensis



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
Sylviorthorhynchus yanacensis (del Hoyo and Collar 2016) was previously listed as Leptasthenura yanacensis.

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.
SACC. 2005 and updates. A classification of the bird species of South America. Available at: https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2022 Least Concern
2016 Near Threatened C1+2a(i)
2012 Near Threatened C1+2a(i)
2008 Near Threatened C1; C2a(i)
2004 Near Threatened
2000 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Near Threatened
Species attributes

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

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 795,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 50000-100000 mature individuals poor inferred 2021
Population trend decreasing poor suspected 2016-2026
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Generation length 2.3 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 5 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is described as 'uncommon and patchily distributed' (Stotz et al. 1996; see also Benham et al. 2011). Assuming that the species occurs at the same density as a congener (S. desmursii in Argentina: 5-10 individuals/km2; Santini et al. 2018) and further assuming that only 10% of the mapped range are occupied to account for the species's rarity, the population may number 74,000-148,000 individuals. This roughly equates to 50,000-100,000 mature individuals.
The subpopulation structure has not been investigated, but based on the species's disjunct range it is thought that it forms five subpopulations, the largest of which may number c.20,000-40,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification: This species is suspected to be declining owing to the loss and degradation of its Polylepis habitat (J. Cahill in litt. 2020). Over ten years, about 2% of tree cover is lost within the range (Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). Therefore, population declines are unlikely to exceed 10% over ten years.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Argentina extant native yes
Bolivia extant native yes
Peru extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Argentina Alto Calilegua
Argentina Caspala y Santa Ana
Argentina Pampichuela
Argentina Queñoales de Santa Catalina
Argentina San Lucas
Argentina Santa Victoria, Cañani y Cayotal
Argentina Valle Colorado y Valle Grande
Bolivia Bosque de Polylepis de Madidi
Bolivia Reserva Biológica Cordillera de Sama
Bolivia Reserva Nacional de Flora y Fauna Tariquía
Bolivia Southern slopes of Tunari National Park (Vertiente Sur del Parque Nacional Tunari IBA)
Bolivia Yungas Superiores de Apolobamba
Peru Abra Málaga-Vilcanota
Peru Cordillera Huayhuash y Nor-Oyón
Peru Parque Nacional Huascarán
Peru Santuario Histórico Machu Picchu

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane major resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude major resident
Altitude 2850 - 4600 m Occasional altitudinal limits (max) 5200 m

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Causing/Could cause fluctuations Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Small-holder plantations 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 Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Tawny Tit-spinetail Sylviorthorhynchus yanacensis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/tawny-tit-spinetail-sylviorthorhynchus-yanacensis on 23/12/2024.
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 23/12/2024.