Justification This species was recently rediscovered and is now known to occur at 15-200 m in a very restricted area of Bahia state between Rio Jequitinhonha and Rio Jequiriça. Although its status remains poorly known, it has a tiny and severely fragmented range which is likely to be declining owing to habitat loss and degradation. For these reasons it is classified as Critically Endangered. However, it has recently been found in a further four municipalities and the resultant increase in its estimated range size may lead to its downlisting in the future.

Family/Sub-family Rhinocryptidae

Species name author (Teixeira & Carnevalli, 1989)

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

Synonyms Scytalopus psychopompas Stotz et al. (1996), Scytalopus psychopompus BirdLife International (2008), Scytalopus psychopompus Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Taxonomic note Scytalopus indigoticus and S. psychopompus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993; Stotz et al. 1996) have been moved into the newly erected genus Eleoscytalopus following SACC (2008).

Identification 11.5 cm. Contrasting tapaculo. Slaty above with white underparts. Dark slaty-grey head, upperparts and flanks with bluish tinge. White loral spot. Cinnamon-rufous wash to rump and scapulars. White cheeks and throat extending to belly. Inconspicuous scaled effect on belly. Pale cinnamon-rufous sides to belly and vent. Dark slaty thighs tinged bluish. Blackish bill with whitish base of mandible. Pinkish legs. Similar spp. Closely resembles allopatric White-breasted Tapaculo S. indigoticus, but it lacks the flank barring that is conspicuous in that species. It also has bluish-grey colouring at the base of the tibia compared with barred cinnamon plumage in indigoticus. Voice Consists of a sequence of short notes (27-28, nine emissions per second) similar to S. indigoticus, which is a descending and accelerating series of very dry and harsh tchj staccato notes. Also regular, frog-like, slightly ascending call frrrrrrrooww, lasting an average of 3.25 seconds. The alarm call consists of a low frequency short note (0.6-1.3 kHz).

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

50-249

decreasing

31 km²

Yes

Range & population This species was, until recently, known only from three specimens taken at two localities in coastal Bahia, Brazil: a male collected in July 1944 at Ilhéus and a pair obtained in October 1983 at Valença^1,2. The species is no longer present close to these towns, but it has been found at Plantações Michelin do Brasil, Igrapiúna municipality, near Ituberá, Bahia, and Una Biological Reserve, Una municipality where small populations survive^3,4,6. During thorough surveys near Ituberá following the discovery just four territories were identified⁶. Surveys by BirdLife/SAVE Brasil have now recorded the species in a further four municipalities: Ilhéus, Maraú, Taperoá and Valença^6,7. The bird is extremely shy and retiring and difficult to detect during surveys; factors that no doubt influence our perception of its status.

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

Ecology: It apparently requires mature wet lowland forests in Una and Igrapiúna areas. It is restricted to patches in river and stream valleys with small swamps around the main river course or swampy parts of the river itself, up to a maximum of c.50 m from the river channel⁶. Its preferred micro-habitat appears to be areas with dense agglomerates of vines and shrubs, covered by trunks and branches of fallen trees⁶.

Threats Destruction of coastal Atlantic forest has been extensive in Bahia, south of Salvador, and only small fragments remain totalling perhaps 10% of its original extent in the area⁵. The species is presumed to be at great risk from the continuing loss of suitable habitat.

Conservation measures underway Neither of the collecting localities is protected. Una Biological Reserve has recently been enlarged to 7,100 ha.

Conservation measures proposed Continue studying the known populations at Ituberá and Una. Search for the species in other fragments of remaining habitat in the area. Determine its population size and status at the known localities. Study the species's ecology, including habitat requirements, and breeding biology. Effectively safeguard Una Biological Reserve and the habitat at Ituberá. Initiate sustainable development projects within the species's range.

References 1. Collar et al. (1992). 2. Krabbe and Schulenberg (2003). 3. P. C. Lima in litt. (2006). 4. F. Olmos in litt. (2006). 5. Tobias et al. (2006). 6. C. Gatto in litt. (2006). 7. P. Develey in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This species has been identified as an AZE trigger due to its IUCN Red List status and limited range.

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 Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Des Callaghan (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Rob P Clay (Guyra Paraguay), Matt Harding (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International - European Division), Rob Pople (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International), L. Urbanek, Rob Williams (BirdLife International)

Contributors Pedro Develey (SAVE Brasil), Cassiano Gatto (SAVE Brasil), P. C. Lima, Fabio Olmos

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Eleoscytalopus psychopompus. 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.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

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