Upper Marañón Valley in southern Cajamarca, La Libertad and eastern Ancash (essentially west of R Marañón, except for sites in western La Libertad), in western Peru.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 1,000 - 2,499 (2010) and decreasing.
Status EN
Habitat destruction and degradation through cutting for firewood and a lack of regeneration, caused by burning and intensive grazing, the change from camelid to sheep- and cattle-farming, and erosion and soil degradation caused by agricultural intensification, road construction and the inadequacy of afforestation projects, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
A high-pitched harsh 'cheet-weet cheet-weet'.
Plain-tailed Warbling Finch (Microspingus alticola) [XC228544]
by Gareth K. from Cruz Conga area, Cajamarca, Peru (call)
Plain-tailed Warbling Finch (Microspingus alticola) [XC451071]
by Wilson Diaz from Laguna de Llanganuco, Cordillera Blanca, Peru (song)
Subspecies
No subspecies.
New molecular data indicate that genus forms a clade with the tanager (Thraupidae) genera Hemispingus and Thlypopsis, and that Compsospiza, which often subsumed within present genus, is sister to that clade. Earlier research suggests that this species is most closely related to Ringed Warbling-Finch (Microspingus torquatus), Black-capped Warbling-Finch (Microspingus melanoleucus) and Rusty-browed Warbling-Finch (Microspingus erythrophrys).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet