Justification The widespread destruction of suitable deciduous forest has rapidly reduced this species's now small population and (poorly understood) range. Remaining populations are severely fragmented and the species qualifies as Vulnerable.

Family/Sub-family Thamnophilidae

Species name author Sclater, 1857

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

Identification 11.5 cm. Long-tailed, well-marked antwren. Male has black crown, white supercilium and black postocular eye-stripe. Grey nape and mantle with black-and-white streaking on latter. Black wings with large white covert tips forming two wing-bars. White spotting on shoulders and fringing to flight feathers. Black tail, boldly tipped white. White underparts with black pectoral crescent. Female has olive upperparts with rufous crown. White tips to uppertail-coverts. Uniform dull buff underparts, brightest on breast. Voice Song is fast ascending series of 14-20 notes, levelling off on the last 4-5, in 2-3 seconds. Female song similar but shorter. Also short, barking call.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

8,600 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 gallery forest and deciduous forest in Maranhão, and tall caatinga woodland and closed, old secondary forest in Bahia. It survives in remnant woodlots characterised by numerous trees over 10 m, and often 15-20 m, but is not found in adjacent habitats with smaller trees. Some of these woodlots are moderately grazed, but it only occurs where there is still a fairly well developed understorey.

Threats It is still insufficiently known to determine precise threats, but clearance for irrigated and dry field agriculture has removed extensive tracts of deciduous forest². The high biomass of these forests makes them important sources of charcoal for Brazil's steel and pig-iron industries, and supposedly substitute plantations of Eucalyptus sp. are being used by the paper pulp industry². Intensive grazing and extensive burning are widespread throughout its range.

Conservation measures underway It is protected under Brazilian law and occurs in Serra de Itabaiana Ecological Station, Sergipe, and Chapada da Diamantina National Park, Bahia⁴. Logging trucks were observed extracting timber from the latter in February 1996⁵, indicating that protection is inadequate.

Conservation measures proposed Survey to improve knowledge of its distribution and habitat requirements. Survey Serra de Itabaiana for this and other threatened species. Map and ecologically evaluate extant patches of deciduous forest², especially in Bahia. Conduct long-term studies on the ecology of this species's forests (e.g. succession and selective logging) to develop viable strategies for economic utilisation². Create a system of conservation units (following surveys and mapping) that adequately protects the species, including the site 23 km from Jeremoaba in Bahia, an area in central Maranhão and the de facto protection and expansion of Chapada da Diamantina National Park to include known sites just outside the park's boundaries.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. G. M. Kirwan in litt. (1999). 2. da Silva and Oren (1997). 3. J. M. C. da Silva in litt. (1995). 4. Wege and Long (1995). 5. A. Whittaker in litt. (1999). 6. E. O. Willis in litt (1999). 7. Perreira et al. (2005). 8. Sangster in litt. (2005).

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 David Capper (BirdLife International), Rob Pople (BirdLife International - European Division), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors J.M.C da Silva, G. M. Kirwan, A Whittaker, E. O. Willis

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2010) Species factsheet: Herpsilochmus pectoralis. 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.

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