Great Antpitta
VU

Great Antpitta

Grallaria excelsa

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_antpitta

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Great Antpitta faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its Andean cloud forest range. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and crop cultivation, continues to reduce and isolate remaining forest patches. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment critical breeding territories, while climate change threatens to shift suitable habitat zones upslope beyond the species' elevational range.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Great Antpitta inhabits humid montane cloud forests and elfin woodlands in the Andes, typically occurring between 1,800-3,400 meters elevation. It prefers dense understory vegetation with thick moss cover and abundant leaf litter, often near streams and in areas with frequent fog and high humidity.

Other threatened species in Grallariidae

Peruvian AntpittaVU

Peruvian Antpitta

Grallaricula peruviana

Unknown
Hooded AntpittaVU

Hooded Antpitta

Grallaricula cucullata

Unknown
Yellow-breasted AntpittaVU

Yellow-breasted Antpitta

Grallaria flavotincta

Unknown
Streak-chested AntpittaVU

Streak-chested Antpitta

Hylopezus perspicillatus

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Great Antpitta classified as Vulnerable?
Great Antpitta is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Great Antpitta faces severe pressure from ongoing deforestation and habitat fragmentation across its Andean cloud forest range. Agricultural expansion, particularly cattle ranching and crop cultivation, continues to reduce and isolate remaining forest patches. Mining activities and infrastructure development further fragment critical breeding territories, while climate change threatens to shift suitable habitat zones upslope beyond the species' elevational range.
Where does Great Antpitta live?
Great Antpitta occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Great Antpitta?
The main threats to Great Antpitta are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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