Justification This species is classified as Near Threatened because the population is moderately small and undergoing moderately rapid declines owing to extensive loss of habitat and trapping for the cagebird trade.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author (Vieillot, 1816)

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

Synonyms Ara maracana Stotz et al. (1996), Ara maracana Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Ara maracana Collar et al. (1994), Ara maracana Collar and Andrew (1988), Propyrrhura maracana BirdLife International (2000)

Taxonomic note Use of the genus Primolius follows SACC (2006).

Identification 36-43 cm. Small, colourful macaw. Pale green body. Red front and bluish crown. Yellowish-white bare face patch. Pale red rump and patch in mid-belly. Blue flight feathers, and mostly blue uppertail, with yellowish underside. Moderately-sized black bill. Similar spp. No other small macaw has red on front. Distinguished from Aratinga parakeets by bare facial patch. Voice High-pitched and harsh screeching.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

3,640,000 km²

No

Range & population Propyrrhura maracana formerly occupied a huge range in Brazil (Pernambuco, Piauí, Maranhão, Pará, Tocantins, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Espírito Santo, São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul), Paraguay (Concepción, Canindeyú, Amambay, Alto Paraná and Caazapá) and Argentina (Misiones and north Corrientes), but has undergone a decline^1,5. The species is found in Marajó island, Pará (where it is common in mangrove forest and cerrado), over most of Brazil to Paraná and adjoining parts of Paraguay. There are no recent records from Misiones, Argentina and it is thought to be virtually extinct in the country²⁰. In São Paulo state, the species has its stronghold in and around Caetetus Ecological Station. In Brazil, this macaw is found in a broad range of habitats, including mangrove forest in Marajó, semi-deciduous and humid forest in southern Pará and São Paulo, Atlantic forest in Rio de Janeiro, Bahia and Espirito Santo, cerrado in Tocantins, and caatinga in Bahia and Piauí. Despite declines in the southern part of its range the species remains widespread over most of its Brazilian range, and has even recolonised areas in its historical range in southern Rio de Janeiro, including the environs of Itatiaia National Park⁴. Some areas considered as strongholds for the species are largely protected (Serra do Cachimbo in Pará is mostly under care of the Brazilian military, who bar colonists and loggers, although they conduct weapon tests in parts of the range) or not under strong pressure (Marajó). Previously unreported populations have been found in the Atlantic forest of Itarana (Barra Encoberta, Santa Joana, Alto Jatiboca e Limoeiro¹⁷.

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

Ecology: It inhabits evergreen and deciduous forest (including Atlantic forest and cerrado savanna) with an apparent preference for gallery forest (especially in the Caatinga region) and forest edge up to 1,000 m ^5,12. There is evidence of breeding from December through February in north-east Brazil⁸. It apparently feeds on seeds from Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus and Jatropha spp.⁸, Guazuma ulmifolia¹³ and the introduced Melia azederach¹. It appears able to persist in fragmented landscapes where a core area of forest remains but it is unlikely that landscapes containing only small fragments are capable of sustaining the species¹⁹.

Threats Its decline is only partly explicable by deforestion, since it has disappeared from localities where apparently suitable habitat remains⁵. It suffers from capture for the cage-bird trade, with 183 individuals arriving in the USA from Paraguay between 1977 and 1979¹. At least in Argentina its decline could have been largely caused by persecution as a crop pest²⁰.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II. It has been recorded at numerous protected areas in Brazil, but Serra do Cachimbo is unprotected and Serra Negra Biological Reserve is a mere 10 km^{2 15}. Twenty birds have been released in Bahia, Brazil, with the intention of correlating differences in ability to survive in the wild with differences of history in captivity¹⁴.

Conservation measures proposed Collate data on specimen and recent records to provide an improved assessment of distribution and status. Monitor known populations to assess trends. Investigate the impact of trade. Protect habitat in areas known to harbour high concentrations of the species.

References 1. Chebez (1994). 2. Clay et al. (1998). 3. R. P. Clay in litt. (2000). 4. Collar (1997a). 5. Juniper and Parr (1998). 6. López (1992). 7. Lowen et al. (1996). 8. Y. de Melo Barros verbally (1999). 9. Podtiaguin (1944). 10. Seal et al. (1992). 11. Sick (1990). 12. Sick (1997). 13. C. Yamashita in litt. (2000). 14. Waugh (1997). 15. Wege and Long (1995). 16. Whitney (1996b). 17. de Jetibá (2003). 18. Penhallurick (2001). 19. Nunes and Galetti (2007). 20. Bodrati et al. (2006).

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Rob P Clay (Guyra Paraguay), E.F. Mansur (Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Rob P Clay (Guyra Paraguay), Y. de Melo Barros, Carlos Yamashita

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Primolius maracana. 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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