| 2009 IUCN Red List Category (as evaluated by BirdLife International - the official Red List Authority for birds for IUCN): Least Concern Justification Although this species may have a restricted range, it is not believed to 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 ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed 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. Family/Sub-family Sylviidae Species name author Sharpe, 1877 Taxonomic source(s) Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993) Identification A tiny understorey warbler. Small and rufous on upperparts, paler on throat, with grey earcoverts and a bizarre hardly-barbed tail, which is often kept tightly closed. Similar spp. From Madagascar Brush-warbler Nesillas typica by its more rufous colour, almost barbless tail, grey earcoverts and small size. Grey Emutail Dromaeocercus seebohmi, which does not occur in forest but in adjacent marshes, is more streaked, especially on mantle, and less rufous. Hints Found in dense humid understorey of montane forest, often in damp valleys, where it creeps along the ground in the manner of a mouse; this impression is strongly reinforced by the tightly-closed tail. The song, a loud "tuuuu-tchwewewewe" or "wee-chechechecheche", is very distinctive.
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