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

Red List criteria met

Critically Endangered	Endangered	Vulnerable
-	-	-

Red List history

Year	Category	Criteria
2024	Near Threatened	B1ab(iii); C2a(ii)
2016	Endangered	A3c; B1ab(i,ii,iii,v); C2a(i)
2012	Endangered	B1ab(i,ii,iii,v);C2a(i)
2008	Endangered	B1a+b(i,ii,iii,v); C2a(i)
2004	Endangered
2000	Endangered
1996	Critically Endangered
1994	Critically Endangered
1988	Threatened

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

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident)	19,100 km2	medium
Number of locations	11-100	-
Severely fragmented?	no	-

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
Population size	8500-30000 mature individuals	medium	estimated	2011
Population trend	decreasing	poor	suspected	-
Generation length	2.6 years	-	-	-
Number of subpopulations	1	-	-	-
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation	100%	-	-	-

Population justification: The species is described as abundant and occurring at a high density (Benham et al. 2011, Lloyd 2020). Density estimates observed in 2003-2005 averaged 16 individuals/km² in Polylepis forest at three sites, ranging from 10 individuals/km² in medium-sized patches to 25 individuals/km² in large patches (Lloyd 2008). Another study in 2009/2010 found higher densities of 34 individuals/km² forest at one site (Benham et al. 2011). Precautionarily assuming that only 10% of the mapped range is occupied to account for the species' habitat specialism (i.e., 1,300 km²), the global population is estimated at 13,000-44,200 individuals. This is roughly equivalent to 8,500-30,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification: The population trend has not been investigated. The species is strongly dependent on dense, mature Polylepis woodland, which is under pressure from encroachment for timber collection and livestock grazing (Fjeldså and Kessler 1996, Jameson and Ramsay 2007, Lloyd 2020). Even though the total loss of Polylepis patches is overall negligible, canopy density is declining and tall trees are disappearing slowly (Jameson and Ramsay 2007); hence, the species' preferred habitat is disproportionately affected by degradation. On this basis, population declines are suspected. The rate of decline is not known, but is likely slow as the species continues to be observed frequently (see eBird 2023).

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

Country/Territory	IBA Name
Peru	Abra Málaga-Vilcanota
Peru	Lagos Yanacocha
Peru	Runtacocha-Morococha
Peru	Santuario Histórico Machu Picchu

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Forest	Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane	major	resident
Altitude	2330 - 4550 m	Occasional altitudinal limits

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		Minority (<50%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Low Impact: 5
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation
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		Minority (<50%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Low Impact: 5
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: White-browed Tit-spinetail Leptasthenura xenothorax. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/white-browed-tit-spinetail-leptasthenura-xenothorax 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.