7 thoughts on “Rufous-throated Wren-babbler (Spelaeornis caudatus)”
To draw a parallel, if Tawny-breasted and Mishmi-Wren Babblers are NT, then it does not make sense to keep Rufous-throated Wren Babblers also as NT. Broadly assuming similar threats across its range, the range size of this species is much more than the other two.
Species map seems to be just an elevation gradient and does not consider habitat. Also, major population lies between Sikkim and W. Arunachal while its much scarce further west and further east respectively.
Its current distribution in Nepal is very limited. The range map that extends west nearly to Kathmandu is wrong as the bird is mostly confined only to the east. The true range would be just one third of what is shown in the current map–Nepal’s eastern border with India. Here the species is represented by only a handful of records.
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 3 May 2024. We will now analyse and interpret all information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 3 May 2024, when discussions will re-open.
Thank you both for your valuable feedback. Upon review, the map has been updated to feature only the easternmost region of Nepal. While this adjustment narrows the species’ range, it still does not approach the threshold for Criterion B, thus maintaining the original assessment unaffected.
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2024 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 13 May 2024, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2024 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2024, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
What is the source for “broad elevational range”? By all accounts and field data, this species occupies a rather narrow elevational band between about 1700 and 2300 metres asl, so is restricted to montane forest at least in Arunachal Pradesh. It is relatively easy to find here, but any references to a broad elevational range are misleading and should be adjusted accordingly.
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 available information, posting a final decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 20 May 2024.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Rufous-throated Wren-babbler is recommended to be listed as Least Concern.
Thank you, Anand, for taking the time to comment. After reconsideration, the study providing the upper elevational boundary was excluded because it offered a wide elevation range where the species was observed rather than a precise elevation, leaving the possibility that it could exist at the lower end of that range. Consequently, the map has been revised to reflect elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,700 meters, encompassing the limits specified by the Birds of the World profile for the species, along with a slight buffer for flexibility. This change however does not affect the final outcome of the assessment.
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2024.2 GTB Forum process. The final 2024 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2024, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
To draw a parallel, if Tawny-breasted and Mishmi-Wren Babblers are NT, then it does not make sense to keep Rufous-throated Wren Babblers also as NT. Broadly assuming similar threats across its range, the range size of this species is much more than the other two.
Species map seems to be just an elevation gradient and does not consider habitat. Also, major population lies between Sikkim and W. Arunachal while its much scarce further west and further east respectively.
Its current distribution in Nepal is very limited. The range map that extends west nearly to Kathmandu is wrong as the bird is mostly confined only to the east. The true range would be just one third of what is shown in the current map–Nepal’s eastern border with India. Here the species is represented by only a handful of records.
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 3 May 2024. We will now analyse and interpret all information, and we will post a preliminary decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 3 May 2024, when discussions will re-open.
Preliminary proposal
Thank you both for your valuable feedback. Upon review, the map has been updated to feature only the easternmost region of Nepal. While this adjustment narrows the species’ range, it still does not approach the threshold for Criterion B, thus maintaining the original assessment unaffected.
Based on available information, our preliminary proposal for the 2024 Red List would be to adopt the proposed classifications outlined in the initial forum discussion.
There is now a period for further comments until the final deadline on 13 May 2024, after which the recommended categorisations will be put forward to IUCN.
The final 2024 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2024, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.
What is the source for “broad elevational range”? By all accounts and field data, this species occupies a rather narrow elevational band between about 1700 and 2300 metres asl, so is restricted to montane forest at least in Arunachal Pradesh. It is relatively easy to find here, but any references to a broad elevational range are misleading and should be adjusted accordingly.
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 available information, posting a final decision on this species’ Red List status on this page on 20 May 2024.
Recommended categorisation to be put forward to IUCN
The final categorisation for this species has not changed. Rufous-throated Wren-babbler is recommended to be listed as Least Concern.
Thank you, Anand, for taking the time to comment. After reconsideration, the study providing the upper elevational boundary was excluded because it offered a wide elevation range where the species was observed rather than a precise elevation, leaving the possibility that it could exist at the lower end of that range. Consequently, the map has been revised to reflect elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,700 meters, encompassing the limits specified by the Birds of the World profile for the species, along with a slight buffer for flexibility. This change however does not affect the final outcome of the assessment.
Many thanks for everyone who contributed to the 2024.2 GTB Forum process. The final 2024 Red List categories will be published on the BirdLife and IUCN websites in October 2024, following further checking of information relevant to the assessments by both BirdLife and IUCN.