Justification This species is listed as Near Threatened because a recent analysis suggests that up to 21% of the global population may be harvested annually. In combination with the rate of ongoing habitat loss, the species is therefore suspected to be declining moderately rapidly.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author Linnaeus, 1758

Taxonomic source(s) Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 33 cm. An unmistakeable mottled grey, medium-sized parrot. It has a large black bill and white mask enclosing a yellow eye. Has a striking red vent and tail. Subspecies P. e. timneh is darker than the nominate, with some red on the bill, and its call is distinctive. Similar spp. There are no similar species within its range.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

680,000 - 13,000,000

decreasing

3,050,000 km²

No

Range & population Psittacus erithacus has a distribution extending from Guinea-Bissau east through the moist lowland forests of West Africa to Cameroon, and thence in the Congo forests to just east of the Albertine Rift (up to the shores of Lake Victoria) in Uganda and Kenya and south to northern Angola⁸. Preliminary calculations based on forest cover and country-level population estimates^1,2,3,4,7 suggest a global population of between 680,000 and 13 million individuals¹⁰. Population declines have been noted in Burundi, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda and parts of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo¹⁰. In all of these declines, trapping for the wild bird trade has been implicated, with habitat loss also having significant impacts throughout West and East Africa. Global population trends have not been quantified; there is evidence of a population decline through most of its range, but it is unclear if the species approaches the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the IUCN Red List Vulnerable category (i.e. declining more than 30% in three generations).

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: Although typically inhabiting dense forest, they are commonly observed at forest edges, clearings, gallery forest, mangroves, wooded savannah, cultivated areas, and even gardens⁸, but it is not clear whether these are self-sustaining populations. At least in West Africa, the species makes seasonal movements out of the driest parts of the range in the dry season. It has never been seen in the isolated Marahoué National Park in Côte d'Ivoire, suggesting that it does not travel large distances between isolated forest blocks, or that some northern semi-deciduous forests are not preferred habitat¹¹.

Threats The species has been heavily traded: during 1994-2003, over 359,000 wild-caught individuals were reportedly exported from range states¹². It is one of the most popular avian pets in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East due to its longevity and unparalleled ability to mimic human speech and other sounds. Demand for wild birds is also increasing in China, and increased presence of Chinese businesses in central Africa (particularly for mining, oil and logging) may increase illegal exports of this species^9,11. While there has been some domestic demand within range states, most impacts seem to be due to international trade, probably owing to the high value of this species¹⁰. Habitat loss is also thought to be having significant impacts throughout West and East Africa.

Conservation measures underway As a result of concerns about international trade, P. e. princeps was put on CITES Appendix I in 1975, and the remainder of the species was put on CITES Appendix II with all Psittaciformes in 1981 at the request of Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In 1994, the P. e. princeps CITES listing was removed due to lack of evidence that it is a valid subspecies. Due to concern about the effects of the large numbers of this species traded, it was the subject of a CITES significant trade review, in which it was listed as of "possible concern"⁶. The Animals Committee of CITES has recommended up to a two-year ban from January 2007 on exports of African Grey Parrots Psittacus erithacus from four West African countries (Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea), where the distinctive (sub)species timneh is found, and in Cameroon, where the more widespread (sub)species erithacus occurs. For a further two countries - Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo - the Committee has recommended that quotas should be halved to 4,000 and 5,000 birds respectively. The species occurs in a number of protected areas.

Conservation measures proposed Ensure that proposed trade restrictions are implemented. Monitor wild populations to determine ongoing trends. Consider banning trade in Congo and DRC, as both countries are lacking the necessary capacity to manage it¹³.

References 1. Collar (1997). 2. Dändliker (1992a). 3. Dändliker (1992b). 4. Fotso (1998b). 5. Gatter (1997). 6. Inskipp et al. (1988). 7. JRC (2000). 8. Juniper and Parr (1998). 9. F. Maisels in litt. (2006). 10. Pilgrim et al. (in prep.). 11. H. Rainey in litt. (2006). 12. UNEP-WCMC CITES Trade Database, October 2005. 13. H. Rainey in litt. (2007).

Text account compilers Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors John Bosco Amuno, Patrice Christy, Geoffrey Citegetse (Assoc. Burundaise pour la Protection des Oiseaux), Angus Gascoigne (Gulf of Guinea Conservation Group), James Gilardi (World Parrot Trust), Philip Hall (Pro Natura International), Fiona Maisels (Wildlife Conservation Society), Martim Melo (University of Edinburgh), Hugo Rainey (Wildlife Conservation Society), Jean Pierre Vande Weghe

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Psittacus erithacus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

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

To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums