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

Justification of Red List category
This species has a moderately large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over three generations). The population size is unknown, but is not suspected to be sufficiently small to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Population justification
The population size of this species has never been quantified. Its relative abundance is hampered by its secretive nature, although knowledge of the call led Diamond and Bishop (2015) to assert that, in the Kumawa Mountains at least, the species is quite common.

Trend justification
The population is precautionarily suspected to be declining because of very local forest degradation impacts and perhaps some localised hunting. Remote sensing data indicate that forest cover loss in the species' range in the three generations (12.9 years; Bird et al. 2020) to 2022 was minimal, equal to only 1-2% (Global Forest Watch 2022, based on data from Hansen et al. [2013] and methods disclosed therein). The rate of decline is not estimated, although is likely to be very slow.

Rallicula leucospila is endemic to north-west Papua, Indonesia, where it is known from the Tamrau, Arfak, Wandammen and Kumawa mountain ranges (Beehler et al. 1986, Diamond and Bishop 2015, Beehler and Pratt 2016).

This species inhabits the montane forest floor. In much of its range, it is apparently confined to a relatively narrow elevation band between 1,450 and 1,600 m (Beehler et al. 1986, Beehler and Pratt 2016), although in the Kumawa Mountains (where knowledge of its call greatly increased its detectability), it was recorded above 1,020 m (Diamond and Bishop 2015). Surveying other localities may prove this lower minimum elevation to be more indicative.

The extensive rainforests within its range remain largely undisturbed, owing to their geographical isolation and the low-density and traditional lifestyle of the human population (Sujatnika et al. 1995, Global Forest Watch 2022). The only likely threats to this species are localised forest loss and incidental kills from dogs on hunting trips (N. Bostock in litt. 1993).

Conservation Actions Underway
There are two protected areas within its range, the Wondiwoi/Wandammen Nature Reserve (730 km²) and the Pegunungan Arfak Nature Reserve, (currently 683 km²), and Pegunungan Tamrau Nature Reserve (c.4,415 km²) in the Tamrau mountains (Sujatnika et al. 1995). No species-specific conservation measure is known for Rallicula leucospila, but much of its range is remote and under no threat.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey to assess the size of the population and determine whether it occurs at other sites using the recently-acquired knowledge of its call (Diamond and Bishop 2015). Research its tolerance of logged forest. Quantify the impact of hunting on populations. Research the effects of introduced and feral species on populations. Continue to monitor rates of forest loss in its range using remote sensing data. Protect large areas of unlogged forest in areas where it occurs.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Bostock, N., Gibbs, D., Mahood, S., O'Brien, A. & Taylor, J.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: White-striped Forest Rail Rallicula leucospila. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/white-striped-forest-rail-rallicula-leucospila on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.