Justification This species is known from very few locations in a very small range. Habitat loss and degradation is continuing within its range. It therefore qualifies as Endangered.

Family/Sub-family Formicariidae

Species name author Chapman, 1912

Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 18 cm. Medium to large antpitta with breast-band. Uniform dark brown with dingy white lores, throat and belly, forming broad, brown breast-band. Similar spp. Tawny Antpitta G. quitensis is ochraceous-buff below, with paler mottling and no breast-band. Voice Territorial and alarm call a loud, whistled wooee rising slightly. Infrequently-heard soft whistle puuh, pü-pü, with third note higher.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

250-999

decreasing

660 km²

Yes

Range & population Grallaria milleri occurs in the Volcán Ruíz-Tolima massif of the Central Andes, Colombia, (Caldas, Risaralda, Quindío and Tolima). Ten specimens were collected in Caldas and Quindío between 1911 and 1942. It was next recorded in May 1994, in Ucumarí Regional Park, Risaralda¹. Surveys carried out in 1994-1997 caught and banded 11 birds, and estimated that 106 individuals were present in a 0.63 km² area^1,2. Further observations have been made on the south-east slope of Volcán Tolima in the río Toche valley during 1998-2000, where it is considered uncommon and local^3,4,5,7. In 1999 and 2000, it was also found in the río Blanco catchment (Caldas) and near Roncesvalles (Tolima)⁷.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: In Ucumarí, it has been recorded from three types of habitat: early secondary growth vegetation with a high density of herbs and shrubs; the understorey of 30-year-old alder (Alnus) plantations; and the understorey of 30-year-old secondary forest¹, with no significant difference in population density between the three. Primary forest in Ucumarí is inaccessible². The ten historical specimens were taken at 2,745-3,140 m and, in the Toche valley, it occurs at 1,800-2,600 m ^3,5. In Ucumarí, all records in 1994-1997 were in a narrow elevational band of 2,400-2,600 m ^1,2. A radio-tracked individual in Ucumarí used a territory of 4.1 ha ⁸. Vocal activity apparently peaks in May-June in the Toche valley⁵.

Threats Most forest below 3,300 m in the Central Andes has long been converted to agricultural land-use. In the Toche valley, this has primarily taken place since the 1950s, mostly for coffee plantations, potatoes, beans and cattle-grazing^3,5. Some forest clearance continues and mature secondary forest patches are now scattered. Natural vegetation cover is judged to have been reduced to c.15% between 1,900 and 3,200 m, with most remnants occurring above 2,200 m ^3,5.

Conservation measures underway Significant numbers are well protected in Ucumarí Regional Park, Risaralda¹. There are several protected areas adjacent to Ucumarí, but it has not been recorded within them⁶. In the Toche valley, it occurs in La Carbonera, a small private nature reserve⁷.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct additional surveys of the Volcán Ruíz-Tolima massif and adjacent areas of the Central Andes. Protect suitable habitat in the Toche valley⁵.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Kattan and Beltrán (1997). 2. Kattan and Beltrán (1999). 3. López-Lanús et al. (2000). 4. B. López-Lanús in litt. (2000). 5. P. G. W. Salaman in litt. (1999, 2000). 6. Wege and Long (1995). 7. Renjifo et al. (2002). 8. Kattan and Beltrán (2002).

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species account from the Threatened birds of the Americas: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 1992). Please note, taxonomic treatment and IUCN Red List category may have changed since publication.

Recuento detallado de la especie tomado del libro Aves Amenazadas de las Americas, Libro Rojo de BirdLife International (BirdLife International 1992). Nota: la taxonomoía y la categoría de la Lista Roja de la UICN pudo haber cambiado desde esta publicación.

Text account compilers Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International), Tom Stuart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors B. López-Lanús, Paul G. W. Salaman (Fundación ProAves)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Grallaria milleri. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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