The Pale-headed Brush-Finch (Atlapetes pallidiceps) is confined to the Río Jubones watershed in the provinces of Azuay and Loja, south-central Ecuador. It had disappeared from known sites and had been feared extinct for over 20 years, when a small population was located in the Yunguilla Valley in November 1998.
A reserve to protect it was established, and protective measures have proven highly successful. The population has more than quadrupled, from 20-25 occupied territories in 1999 to 113 territories in 2009.
Protective measures include improvement of habitat and control of the parasitic Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis).