Species

Justification
There are very few recent records of this species, indicating that the range and population are conceivably small, and that it may have undergone a rapid decline. It consequently qualifies as Vulnerable.

Taxonomic source(s)
SACC. 2006. A classification of the bird species of South America. Available at: http://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.html.
Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.
Stotz, D. F.; Fitzpatrick, J. W.; Parker, T. A.; Moskovits, D. K. 1996. Neotropical birds: ecology and conservation. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Identification
24 cm. Large antpitta with barred underparts. Olive-brown above, with contrasting grey crown and nape. Tawny sides of head, neck and underparts, heavily barred black. White throat. Similar spp. Undulated Antpitta G. squamigera is smaller with less contrasting crown and no malar stripe. Voice A long, deep but rising trill - br'r'r'r'r'r'r'r'r'orp approx. 4 - 6 seconds long

Distribution and population
Grallaria excelsa occurs in the mountains of north Venezuela: in the Andes of Sierra de Perijá (north-west Zulia and possibly adjacent Colombia) and the Cordillera de Mérida (from east Táchira, through Mérida, to south-east Trujillo and south-east Lara), as well as the Cordillera de la Costa (Aragua) (Meyer de Schauensee and Phelps 1978, Ridgely and Tudor 1994). Though until recently virtually unknown in life (with some older records referring to misidentified Undulated Antpitta G. squamigera and Plain-backed Antpitta G. haplonota [C. J. Sharpe in litt. 1997, Sharpe and Ascanio 2008]), it is now recorded with some regularity in at least one site in Yacambú National Park. However, it is likely to be rare and localised throughout its range. There are apparently no recent records of the distinctive Coastal Cordillera subspecies phelpsi.


Population justification
The population is estimated to number 2,500-9,999 mature individuals based on an assessment of known records, descriptions of abundance and range size. This is consistent with recorded population density estimates for congeners or close relatives with a similar body size, and the fact that only a proportion of the estimated Extent of Occurrence is likely to be occupied. This estimate is equivalent to 3,750-14,999 individuals, rounded here to 3,500-15,000 individuals.

Trend justification
This species's population is suspected to be declining rapidly, in line with rates of habitat loss within its range.

Ecology
It inhabits humid montane forest with a dense understorey at 1,700-2,300 m, but particularly above 2,000 m (Ridgely and Tudor 1994, C. J. Sharpe, J. P. Rodríguez and F. Rojas-Suárez in litt. 1999, Sharpe and Ascanio 2008). Nesting takes place in May-June, and one or two eggs are laid (Kofoed and Auer 2004). Nests are built 3.8 - 12 m above the ground in trees where dense clusters of aroid plants, epiphytes, and lianas secure them to either a vertical fork or against the trunk itself (Kofoed and Auer 2004). They are large, bulky, open-cups made from mosses, rootlets, wet leaves, small stems, detritus, and fern fronds, and lined with a thick mesh of black rootlets and rhizomorphs (Kofoed and Auer 2004).


Threats
Some large tracts of forest remain in the Cordillera de Mérida and Cordillera de la Costa, but deforestation has been locally severe (Huber and Alarcón 1988, C. J. Sharpe in litt. 1997). Agricultural colonisation represents a significant threat in the Sierra de Perijá, Cordillera de Mérida and Cordillera de la Costa, and many areas have already been cleared for cultivation, both commercial and subsistence (Stattersfield et al. 1998, Sharpe and Ascanio 2008). The Sierra de Perijá has been extensively deforested for narcotics cultivation, uncontrolled colonisation, cattle-ranching and mineral exploitation (C. J. Sharpe in litt. 1997, A. Viloria per J. Fjeldså in litt. 1998). It is considered nationally Endangered in Venezuela (Sharpe 2008).


Conservation actions underway
Its range falls within Sierra de Perijá, Sierra Nevada and Yacambú National Parks and Pico Codazzi Nature Monument. Sierra de Perijá National Park formally protects one subpopulation, but there is no active management (Rodríguez and Rojas-Suárez 1995, A. Viloria per J. Fjeldså in litt. 1998).

Conservation actions proposed
Using tape-playback, survey to assess its current distribution and ecological requirements, and identify appropriate conservation measures (Sharpe and Ascanio 2008). Determine whether this taxon is a valid species. Survey the upper elevations of the Coastal Cordillera for G. e. phelpsi, which has gone unrecorded for decades (P. Boesman in litt. 2012). Employ nets in the lower elevations of Guaramacal NP where the voice of G. undulata / exelsa can often be heard, to establish which of the two species is present (P. Boesman in litt. 2012). Initiate active management of Sierra de Perijá National Park. Increase the area of suitable habitat that has protected status. Evaluate the taxonomic status of phelpsi (Sharpe and Ascanio 2008).

Interesting also would be to establish whether there are objective criteria to distinguish voice of G. exelsa from G. undulata, which would facilitate greatly survey fieldwork

References
Meyer de Schauensee, R.; Phelps, W. H. 1978. A guide to the birds of Venezuela. Princeton University Press, Princeton.

Huber, O.; Alarcón, C. 1988. Mapa de la vegetación de Venezuela. Ministério del Ambiente y de los Recursos Naturales Renovables (División de Vegetación) and Nature Conservancy, Caracas.

Ridgely, R. S.; Tudor, G. 1994. The birds of South America. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas.

Rodríguez, J. P.; Rojas-Suárez, F. 1995. Libro Rojo de la fauna Venezolana. Provita, Caracas.

Stattersfield, A. J.; Crosby, M. J.; Long, A. J.; Wege, D. C. 1998. Endemic bird areas of the world: priorities for bird conservation. BirdLife International, Cambridge, U.K.

Further web sources of information
Hear sounds for this species from xeno-canto, the community database of shared bird sounds from around the world.

View photos and videos, and hear sounds of this species from the Internet Bird Collection

Text account compilers
Capper, D., Pople, R., Sharpe, C J, Symes, A., Williams, R.

Contributors
Boesman, P., Fjeldså, J., Rodríguez, J., Rojas-Suárez, F., Sharpe, C J, Viloria, A.

IUCN Red List evaluators
Butchart, S., Symes, A.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Grallaria excelsa. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 23/05/2013.

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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