Rediscovered, Then Neglected: Five years after its return, the Antioquia Brushfinch could disappear again
New study reveals the severely restricted and disconnected habitat of Colombia’s Atlapetes blancae - offering vital clues for its conservation
Once thought extinct, the Antioquia Brushfinch (Atlapetes blancae) was rediscovered in 2018 after vanishing for nearly half a century. Endemic to Colombia’s Altiplano de Santa Rosa de Osos, this elusive and Critically Endangered species now finds itself clinging to survival in a fragmented landscape of isolated habitat patches. A new study by Velázquez-Tabares and colleagues provides the first comprehensive assessment of the bird’s potential distribution and habitat connectivity - vital information for directing future conservation efforts.
Using occurrence records and advanced modelling tools, the authors charted the likely environmental niche of A. blancae and identified key areas of remnant habitat. Their findings paint a worrying picture: suitable habitat is not only scarce but also fractured into disconnected islands that threaten the species' long-term viability.
Two Centres, No ConnectionThe study found that the Antioquia Brushfinch occupies two distinct centres of habitat within the Altiplano - one in the north (around Santa Rosa de Osos and Angostura) and another in the south (near Bello and San Pedro de los Milagros). However, there is no evidence of connectivity between these centres. Modelling estimates suggest the total potential distribution spans 789 km² (MaxEnt model) or 521 km² (MVE model), yet only a fraction of this area offers suitable habitat - and just 2–3% remains both suitable and well-connected.
Effective network size - a measure of habitat connectivity - is as low as 18.88 km², indicating that the bird’s range is not just small, but deeply fragmented. These disconnections pose serious risks for inbreeding and genetic isolation, reducing the species’ ability to adapt to environmental change.
Mapping the PatchworkTo identify priority areas for conservation, the team combined species distribution modelling with habitat mapping and landscape resistance analysis. They focused on known habitat preferences - low secondary scrub, crops intermixed with native vegetation, and elevations between 2,400–3,000 m - and evaluated which areas could realistically support populations of the bird.
Three habitat fragments emerged as especially critical: two in the northern cluster and one in the southern cluster. Each contains known occurrence records, lies within the predicted suitable range, and contributes significantly to landscape connectivity. These areas, none of which currently enjoy formal protection, are now top candidates for targeted conservation action.
A Bleak Outlook, But a Clear PathThe findings underscore the vulnerability of A. blancae to continued habitat loss, driven by small-scale agriculture, cattle ranching, urban expansion, and climate change. While the Altiplano Norte de Antioquia was designated a Key Biodiversity Area in 2023, this status offers no guarantee of protection. The brushfinch's survival will likely depend on landscape-level solutions that go beyond protected areas.
The authors recommend a shift in strategy: conservation measures must include sustainable land management practices that engage local communities. These could include silvopastoral systems, riparian buffer zones, and restoration of vegetation corridors to enhance connectivity. They also urge surveys in two additional zones that, while unconfirmed, may host undiscovered populations - one bridging the north cluster and the other just south of the Altiplano.
Next Steps: From Maps to ManagementFuture research should prioritise genetic studies to assess inbreeding risks and investigate whether the northern and southern populations remain viable as a single metapopulation. Understanding dispersal behaviour, reproductive success, and population dynamics will be crucial in designing effective corridors and conservation strategies.
For now, this study provides the most detailed road map yet for safeguarding a bird that came back from presumed extinction - and serves as a stark reminder that rediscovery alone is not enough to ensure survival.
July 2025
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