Justification This species has a very small and declining population. Conservative estimates of numbers suggest that all subpopulations are extremely small. It therefore qualifies as Endangered.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author Lafresnaye, 1847

Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 55-60 cm. Medium-sized, tricoloured macaw. Largely bright green. Orange-red forehead to mid-crown and small auricular patch. Large shoulder patch and mottled thigh coloration as crown. Pale blue primaries. Narrow ring of pale pinkish bare skin around eye. Large black bill. Similar spp. Military Macaw A. militaris occurs in different habitats, is larger and has no red on wing. Voice Rather musical and high-pitched growls and harsher squeaks.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

1,000 - 4,000

decreasing

10,100 km²

Yes

Range & population Ara rubrogenys is endemic to a small area on the east Andean slope of south-central Bolivia, from south Cochabamba and west Santa Cruz through north Chuquisaca to north-east Potosí. It is principally found in the valley systems of the ríos Grande, Mizque and Pilcomayo. It is locally common but declining, with the population variously estimated at 2,000-4,000 individuals in 1991-1992⁶, and as few as 1,000 in 1991². In the Caine valley (Cochabamba and Potosí) 40-100 indivuduals were considered resident and secure in 1989-1992, but only one was seen during five days fieldwork in 1995^4,6. Conservative estimates indicate there may now be fewer than 500 breeding pairs, although not all nesting colonies have yet been found, and there are additional non-breeding adults in any given year⁹.

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

Ecology: Its original natural habitat is inter-Andean dry forest, but this has been degraded to thorn and cactus scrub by centuries (if not millennia) of human activity⁹ and it now inhabits subtropical, xerophytic thorny scrub with many cacti and scattered trees at 1,100-2,500 m, dispersing locally to 3,000 m. It nests and roosts on undisturbed, steep-sided river cliffs. Its diet includes seeds and fruit, but natural food sources are often scarce and birds feed extensively on crops, particularly groundnuts and unripe maize⁸. Egg-laying has been reported from November and exceptionally as late as April, with pairs fledging one, two or occasionally three offspring annually^5,9. Adults and their young remain on the breeding grounds until late March or early April⁹.

Threats Its original natural habitat is inter-Andean dry forest but this has been degraded to thorn and cactus scrub by centuries (if not millennia) of highly unsustainable human activities, nowadays mainly overgrazing by goats, firewood cutting and charcoal production⁹. An estimated 40% of natural vegetation in valleys within its range had been converted to agriculture by 1991, with other areas degraded by intense grazing. Several important food trees are harvested for fuel and charcoal. As food plants are lost, agricultural land is used more, thereby increasing the species's exposure to persecution as a crop-pest, and the use of firearms for pest control has been recorded¹. Illegal trapping continues, but has been reduced as a result of legal protection^5,6,10,11. The majority of the Bolivian parrot trade is domestic but more valuable threatened species end up in Peru or further afield. 26 Red-fronted Macaws were recorded passing through the Los Pozos pet market, Santa Cruz between August 2004-July 2005, and there are four other wildlife markets in the city and others in Cochabamba, suggesting this figure may only represent a small proportion of birds illegally trafficked in the country¹¹.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II. Its capture, transport and export is prohibited under Bolivian law³, although this is not effectively enforced¹¹. In 1992, 5,000 posters urging the protection of macaws and their habitat were made and apparently well received throughout the region. Non-breeding birds occur in the southern edge of Amboro National Park⁹. Armonía has a long-term conservation project on the Rio Mizque working with three subsistence farming communities to protect breeding cliffs with 20-25 active nests. An ecotourism lodge was inaugurated here in 2006 with proceeds going to the local communities, and it is planned to establish a protected area at this site⁹.

Conservation measures proposed Continue surveying and monitoring^2,7. Fence key patches of gallery forest to limit cattle-grazing and permit vegetation to regenerate⁷. Effectively enforce trade laws¹¹. Organise awareness campaigns². Identify suitable sites for protected areas within rio Grande and rio Pilcomayo drainages.⁸

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Brace et al. (1995). 2. Clarke and Duran Patiño (1991). 3. Fuller and Gaski (1987). 4. Herzog et al. (1997). 5. Juniper and Parr (1998). 6. Pitter and Christiansen (1995). 7. Snyder et al. (2000). 8. Kyle (2005). 9. S. K. Herzog in litt. (2007). 10. A. Rojas in litt. (2007). 11. Herrera and Hennessey (2007).

Further web sources of information

Fully detailed species account from the Threatened birds of the Americas: the BirdLife International Red Data Book (BirdLife International 1992). Please note, taxonomic treatment and IUCN Red List category may have changed since publication.

Recuento detallado de la especie tomado del libro Aves Amenazadas de las Americas, Libro Rojo de BirdLife International (BirdLife International 1992). Nota: la taxonomoía y la categoría de la Lista Roja de la UICN pudo haber cambiado desde esta publicación.

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Tom Stuart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors S. K. Herzog (Asociación Armonía), Abraham Rojas (Asociación Armonía)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Ara rubrogenys. 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.

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