6 thoughts on “Sincora Antwren (Formicivora grantsaui)”
According to the notes, the EOO has been recalculated based on eBird records. Please do not use eBird records without thorough checking, as eBird records in Brazil are frequently mapped erroneously, often by visiting birders without a very good idea of where they have been (I am an eBird reviewer for Paraná state and have spent a lot of time correcting egregious errors, but across the country, many many errors remain). The two eBird records from near Morro do Chapeu are both labelled with the location “Chapada Diamantina” (or a misspelling) and it seems very likely that they have been mapped in the wrong location by the observers, as Chapada Diamantina is located further south. Similar considerations apply to the records south of Mucugê. The Morro do Chapeu records should certainly be discarded as incorrect, and the other records that “extend the known distribution” should be reviewed before being used to update the range or text descriptions.
In brief, raw eBird records should not be assumed to be correct unless filtered in collaboration with observers who have local knowledge, and they should not be used uncritically to update species ranges. I have observed that historical records are often mapped inaccurately and even modern records may be mapped to a location far from where a bird was observed (e.g. when observers submit a single list for one or several days from a trip that covered a wide area).
[This effect can be seen with species that are restricted to a single site, such as Alagoas Antwren in Alagoas (there is also a historical record in Pernambuco) and Blue-eyed Ground Dove. The impression given by eBird pins is that these species have been recorded at multiple dispersed sites across the landscape, when in fact their true occurrence is far more restricted.]
Formicivora grantsaui (endemic to Brazil) is considered VU on the National Red List per SALVE (ICMBio) and my suggestion would be to downlist to VU.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 25 April 2025. We will now analyse and interpret the information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List category on this page on 25 April 2025, when discussions will re-open.
We thank B. Phalan for the above comment and have now revised the range map accordingly. A recalculation of the species’ EOO results in a value that falls below the threshold of 5,000 km2 for Endangered under Criterion B1.
The main threat to this species is fire, and there are considered to be relatively few locations where this threat could quickly affect the entire distribution of the taxon (ICMBio 2018, ICMBio in litt. 2025). Tentatively, the number of locations is placed in the band 6-20, thus meeting the threshold for Vulnerable under this subcriterion. Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2025 Red List would be to list Sincora Antwren as Vulnerable under Criterion B1ab(iii).
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 4 May 2025, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2025 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
The ICMBio national assessment also used records from Morro do Chapéu. If these records are excluded, the EOO will be significantly reduced, falling below the limits for EN.
However, considering fire as the main threat, the number of locations is certainly greater than 5, and I believe it would even be greater than 10. This calculation can be improved by using the extensions of the areas affected by fires in recent years.
It would be interesting to also try to calculate the AOO. Recurrent fires and the conversion of habitat for agriculture also cause a continued decline in the area of occupation.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 12 May 2025.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
We thank all those who have contributed valuable information, including that sent via email by B. Phalan, which will be incorporated into the updated Red List assessment. Although the number of locations may plausibly exceed ten, it is here maintained in the range 6-20 on a precautionary basis, especially when considering the impact of drought which can exacerbate the intensity and extent of fire events (B. Phalan in litt. 2025). The final categorisation for this species has therefore not changed. Sincora Antwren is recommended to be listed as Vulnerable under Criterion B1ab(iii).
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2025.2 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
According to the notes, the EOO has been recalculated based on eBird records. Please do not use eBird records without thorough checking, as eBird records in Brazil are frequently mapped erroneously, often by visiting birders without a very good idea of where they have been (I am an eBird reviewer for Paraná state and have spent a lot of time correcting egregious errors, but across the country, many many errors remain). The two eBird records from near Morro do Chapeu are both labelled with the location “Chapada Diamantina” (or a misspelling) and it seems very likely that they have been mapped in the wrong location by the observers, as Chapada Diamantina is located further south. Similar considerations apply to the records south of Mucugê. The Morro do Chapeu records should certainly be discarded as incorrect, and the other records that “extend the known distribution” should be reviewed before being used to update the range or text descriptions.
In brief, raw eBird records should not be assumed to be correct unless filtered in collaboration with observers who have local knowledge, and they should not be used uncritically to update species ranges. I have observed that historical records are often mapped inaccurately and even modern records may be mapped to a location far from where a bird was observed (e.g. when observers submit a single list for one or several days from a trip that covered a wide area).
[This effect can be seen with species that are restricted to a single site, such as Alagoas Antwren in Alagoas (there is also a historical record in Pernambuco) and Blue-eyed Ground Dove. The impression given by eBird pins is that these species have been recorded at multiple dispersed sites across the landscape, when in fact their true occurrence is far more restricted.]
Formicivora grantsaui (endemic to Brazil) is considered VU on the National Red List per SALVE (ICMBio) and my suggestion would be to downlist to VU.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments until 25 April 2025. We will now analyse and interpret the information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List category on this page on 25 April 2025, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
We thank B. Phalan for the above comment and have now revised the range map accordingly. A recalculation of the species’ EOO results in a value that falls below the threshold of 5,000 km2 for Endangered under Criterion B1.
The main threat to this species is fire, and there are considered to be relatively few locations where this threat could quickly affect the entire distribution of the taxon (ICMBio 2018, ICMBio in litt. 2025). Tentatively, the number of locations is placed in the band 6-20, thus meeting the threshold for Vulnerable under this subcriterion. Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2025 Red List would be to list Sincora Antwren as Vulnerable under Criterion B1ab(iii).
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 4 May 2025, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2025 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
The ICMBio national assessment also used records from Morro do Chapéu. If these records are excluded, the EOO will be significantly reduced, falling below the limits for EN.
However, considering fire as the main threat, the number of locations is certainly greater than 5, and I believe it would even be greater than 10. This calculation can be improved by using the extensions of the areas affected by fires in recent years.
It would be interesting to also try to calculate the AOO. Recurrent fires and the conversion of habitat for agriculture also cause a continued decline in the area of occupation.
Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to this discussion. We greatly appreciate the time and effort invested in commenting. The window for consultation is now closed and we are unable to accept any more comments. We will analyse and interpret the information, and a final decision on this species’ Red List category will be posted on this page on 12 May 2025.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
We thank all those who have contributed valuable information, including that sent via email by B. Phalan, which will be incorporated into the updated Red List assessment. Although the number of locations may plausibly exceed ten, it is here maintained in the range 6-20 on a precautionary basis, especially when considering the impact of drought which can exacerbate the intensity and extent of fire events (B. Phalan in litt. 2025). The final categorisation for this species has therefore not changed. Sincora Antwren is recommended to be listed as Vulnerable under Criterion B1ab(iii).
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2025.2 GTB Forum process. The final Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2025, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.