Justification Heavy trapping, compounded by localised forest clearance, may be causing a rapid population decline, leading to this species's classification as Vulnerable. However the data are patchy and rather old, and this species may be secure in the large areas of inaccessible forest within its range.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author (Oustalet, 1880)

Taxonomic source(s) Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 19 cm. Chunky, short-tailed parrot. Largely green plumage. Male has orange breast patch and yellow cheeks, and female has pale blue breast patch and greenish-yellow cheeks. Similar spp. Edwards' Fig-parrot P. edwardsii has dark eye-stripe and collar, and red throat. Large Fig-parrot P. desmarestii has orange crown and lacks yellow cheeks. Voice Short, staccato flight calls and short, high-pitched trills when perched. Hints Common at Nimbokrang near Jayapura.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

10,000

decreasing

50,900 km²

Yes

Range & population Psittaculirostris salvadorii is endemic to northern Papua (formerly Irian Jaya), Indonesia, where it occurs from the eastern shore of Geelvink Bay to the Cyclops Mountains², including the lowland forest up the tributaries of the Mamberamo River⁶. Recent records suggest that it is still locally common, including in the lowlands west of Jayapura and at Nimbokrang^4,9,10,11,12. Previous evidence strongly suggested a decline^3,4,7, although no new information is available and much of its range is remote and inaccessible^6,13.

Ecology: Small flocks inhabit the canopy of lowland forests, including forest edge and swamp-forest, from sea-level up to 400 m^2,6,15. It is frugivorous.

Threats Relatively large numbers are trapped for the cage-bird trade, both for domestic and overseas markets, with a total of 1,582 birds known to have been exported from Indonesia between 1985 and 1990^1,5,8,14, and 1,791 between 1990 and 2001 when recorded trade in the species ceased¹⁷. Local human population increases, resulting from transmigration (e.g. near Nabire and Jayapura), have increased logging and land clearance for agriculture^7,16, and have probably increased trade in the species. Additional threats to lowland forests within its range include many large-scale logging and agricultural schemes, and a proposed dam on the Mamberamo River^5,16.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. Two huge protected areas, Foja Nature Reserve (c.10,000 km²) and Jayawija Nature Reserve (8,000 km²), are located within the species's range¹⁶. It is kept in captivity and breeds well but no coordinated breeding effort or studbook is known.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct extensive surveys to clarify its current distribution and population status. Ascertain scale of threats to lowland forest within its range. Investigate domestic and international trade in the species, and devise and implement appropriate combative measures. Assess the effectiveness of the current protected-areas system for conserving populations, and propose further reserves at key sites if appropriate.

References 1. Beehler (1985). 2. Beehler et al. (1986). 3. K. D. Bishop in litt. (1987). 4. K. D. Bishop in litt. (1994). 5. K. D. Bishop in litt. (1996). 6. K. D. Bishop in litt. (2000). 7. R. Burrows in litt. (1994). 8. Collar (1997a). 9. Diamond (1985). 10. Eastwood (1996b). 11. Gibbs (1993). 12. D. Gibbs in litt. (1994). 13. P. Gregory in litt. (1994). 14. Nash (1990b). 15. Rand and Gilliard (1967). 16. Sujatnika et al. (1995). 17. UNEP-WCMC (2007).

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species accounts from the Threatened birds of Asia: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 2001), together with new information collated since the publication of the Red Data Book

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Guy Dutson (Birds Australia), Guy Dutson (BirdLife International)

Contributors K. David Bishop, R. Burrows, David Gibbs, Phil Gregory

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Mike Crosby (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Psittaculirostris salvadorii. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

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