Justification This species has a small and fragmented population and range, which are continuing to decline rapidly as a result of habitat loss, and it therefore qualifies as Vulnerable. However, clarification of its range in southern Bahia may in due course result in its downlisting to Near Threatened.

Family/Sub-family Thamnophilidae

Species name author (Wied, 1831)

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

Synonyms Thamnomanes plumbeus Collar and Andrew (1988), Thamnomanes plumbeus Stotz et al. (1996)

Taxonomic note Dysithamnus plumbeus and D. leucostictus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) are retained as separate species contra SACC (2006) who include leucostictus as a subspecies of D. plumbeus, pending further review by SACC, which is expected when a forthcoming paper by Isler et al. is published.

Identification 12.5 cm. Small, chunky, uniformly coloured antbird. Male slate-grey, blacker on chest, with white carpal bend and tips to coverts. Female dull olive-brown above, with buffy-white carpal and covert markings. Whitish throat. Ochraceous lower belly and vent. Similar spp. Myrmotherula antwrens are smaller. Cinereous Antshrike Thamnomanes caesius is larger, and lacks covert markings and black on chest. Voice 2-3 second series of c.10 melancholy, whistled notes, rising at start then fading.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

11,000 km²

Yes

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

Ecology: It inhabits the lower stratum of tall primary or little-disturbed, lowland Atlantic forest (up to 800 m at Augusto Ruschi Biological Reserve¹). Pairs or singles generally forage within 2 m of the ground (occasionally to 4 m when associating with mixed-species flocks) in dense tangles, especially in shaded, old treefalls overgrown with vines and saplings. The diet consists of arthropods, including katydids, stick insects, pupas and insect eggs, gleaned from leaves and twigs. Territories appear to be fairly small (less than 1.5 ha) and fixed, with pairs exceptionally occurring within 75 m of each other. A nest with two eggs being incubated has been found in August.

Threats The fragmentation of the species's range by extensive forest clearance has been and remains the one significant threat. It is now primarily restricted to a small number of protected areas, several of which remain to be consolidated, and from where recorded numbers are low.

Conservation measures underway It is protected under Brazilian law. Its stronghold is probably within Sooretama Biological Reserve. It is much less common in the adjacent Linhares Forest Reserve. There are additional records from Rio Doce State Park, Feliciano Abdalla Private Nature Reserve, Augusto Ruschi Biological Reserve¹and Duas Bocas State Biological Reserve.

Conservation measures proposed Survey known sites to ascertain its status. Survey other forested areas within its range to clarify its current distribution. Monitor known populations, especially those at Sooretama and Rio Doce. Ensure the integrity of protected areas where it does occur.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. E. O. Willis and Y. Oniki in litt. (1999). 2. B. M. Whitney, J. F. Pacheco, R. R. Laps and L. F. Silveira in litt. (2003). 3. B. M. Whitney and J. F. Pacheco in litt. (2003). 4. Bauer (1999).

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 Rob P Clay (BirdLife International), Matt Harding (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International), Rob Williams (BirdLife International)

Contributors Andre De Luca (SAVE Brasil), Pedro Develey (SAVE Brasil), R. Laps, Y. Oniki, José Fernando Pacheco (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro), Luís Fábio Silveira (University of São Paulo), Bret Whitney (Louisiana State University), E. O. Willis

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2010) Species factsheet: Dysithamnus plumbeus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 30/7/2010

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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