Justification Very high levels of forest clearance, fragmentation and degradation have presumably resulted in this species undergoing rapid population declines and consequently qualifying as Vulnerable. Total numbers are difficult to assess, but the population may be small.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author Berlepsch & Stolzmann, 1894

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

Identification 35 cm. Predominantly green parakeet. Mostly vivid green with orange frontal band over bill and yellow streak running below eye and extending into tufts behind eye. White ocular patch. Yellowish central belly with diffuse orange barring, dull reddish undertail. Similar spp. Only large, long-tailed parakeet in its range. Voice Macaw-like. In flight, noisy chree-ah, feeding flocks chatter continuously, also harsh scraart.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

44,400 km²

No

Range & population Leptosittaca branickii is widely but locally distributed in Colombia (both slopes of the Central Andes, the southern base of the East Andes and one record from Cerro Munchique, Cauca, in the West Andes), Ecuador (isolated massifs in the far north and south, but only in the south on the main Andean ridges) and Peru (Cordillera de Colán and the east Andean slope, with one record on the west slope of the Cordillera Central in La Libertad). It has declined considerably in Colombia and Ecuador, and may now be declining in Peru (where it has generally been considered to be stable) due to increasing habitat destruction¹⁰. The Nevado del Ruíz-Nevado del Tolima massif, Colombia, harbours 1,000-3,000 birds⁷. In forests of the Cordillera de Chilla, Ecuador, densities of c.2.3 birds/km² and c.6.6 birds/km² have been estimated³.

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

Ecology: It inhabits temperate cloud and elfin forest at 2,400-3,400 m, occasionally down to 1,400 m ⁴. Some populations are nomadic, possibly owing to a heavy dependence on Podocarpus cones. It nests in dead wax palms Ceroxylon sp., even where these trees are scarce⁸. Nesting probably corresponds to food availability, and may not be seasonal⁸.

Threats Habitat loss and fragmentation has been considerable throughout its range, with 90-93% of montane forest lost in Colombia, but less in Peru^6,7. The cutting of wax palms for Palm Sunday services is a serious problem in parts of Ecuador, and palms also suffer poor recruitment because cattle browse young trees and logging in adjacent areas increases their susceptibility to parasites and disease⁶. Road construction is ongoing throughout many areas of elfin and cloud forest in Peru and has caused severe habitat loss in areas such as Abra Malaga¹⁰. In Colombia, it is trapped as a maize pest and as a pet⁶. Many protected areas are affected by the burning and grazing of páramo, settlement, clearance for agriculture, logging, narcotics and gold mining^6,9.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. It is known from many protected areas⁹, including Los Nevados and Cueva de los Guácharos National Parks (Colombia), Podocarpus National Park (Ecuador)^1,7. Of all these reserves, Ucumarí Regional Natural Park, Puracé National Park (Colombia), Huashapamba Protection Forest (Ecuador) and Río Abiseo National Park (Peru) are apparently well protected⁹. In Ecuador a campaign organised by Aves&Conservación and the Jocotoco Foundation and supported by the government aims to reduce unsustainable harvesting of wax palms.

Conservation measures proposed Assess its status in Peru². Establish the degree of dependence on wax palms in different regions⁸. Develop a network of protected montane forests. Protect the Nevado del Ruiz-Nevado del Tolima massif and the Cordillera de Chilla^3,5,7.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Clements and Shany (2001). 2. Flanagan et al. (2000). 3. Jacobs and Walker (1999). 4. Juniper and Parr (1998). 5. López-Lanus et al. (in press). 6. Salaman et al. (1999b). 7. P. G. W. Salaman in litt. (1999). 8. Sornoza Molina and López-Lanus (1999). 9. Wege and Long (1995). 10. H. Lloyd in litt. (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), Matt Harding (BirdLife International), Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Simon Stuart (Conservation International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Huw Lloyd (Manchester Metropolitan University), Paul G. W. Salaman (Fundación ProAves)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Leptosittaca branickii. 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.

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