Justification This species is Critically Endangered because the known breeding range is extremely small. Suitable habitat is severely fragmented throughout its historical range and continues to be lost and degraded. Conservation action is addressing some of the key issues and if the rapid observed population increases result in an increase of range size, the species may warrant downlisting in the near future.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author (Massena & Souancé, 1854)

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

Identification 42 cm. Macaw-like, yellow-and-green parrot. Green with large yellow ear-patches and frontal band, green throat and predominantly yellow underparts. Dark, heavy bill. Similar spp. Red-fronted Parakeet Aratinga wagleri is smaller and lacks yellow on the head. Golden-plumed Parakeet Leptosittaca branickii has much less yellow on sides of head and a smaller, paler bill. Voice Disyllabic, goose-like calls.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

600

increasing

80 km²

No

Range & population Ognorhynchus icterotis formerly occurred in all three Andean ranges of Colombia, from Norte de Santander and Antioquia to Nariño and in north-west Ecuador, south to Cotopaxi. It persists in the Central Andes of Colombia^2,4,5, although its whereabouts for much of the year is unknown^3,5. It was once common to abundant, but is now potentially extinct in Ecuador (although there have been unconfirmed reports of flocks of c.20 individuals in the Intag valley since 2000¹⁰) and when re-discovered in Colombia in 1999 there were only estimated to be 81 birds. Intensive conservation actions have since seen the population recover to possibly over 1,000 individuals¹², with record breeding success of 203 fledged chicks from 80 monitored nests in 2008¹², but this population is confined to an extremely small range where its specialist habitat remains threatened.

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

Ecology: It inhabits humid montane forest, elfin forest and partially cleared terrain at 1,200-3,400 m, favouring areas dominated by wax palms Ceroxylon quindiuense, in which it roosts, nests and feeds^1,2,5,7. Although currently resident at one site^4,6, other flocks wander seasonally in search of food (bark, buds and fruiting/seeding blooms of Ceroxylon, Citharexylon, Podocarpus and Sapium spp.)^2,6,7. Two breeding cycles in April-November were noted at one colony^1,6. Breeding pairs enlist the help of 'brood-helpers' during the chick-rearing stage⁹.

Threats It has suffered considerable habitat loss and fragmentation (90-93% of montane forest in Colombia) throughout its range^6,8; however several sizeable areas of habitat remain within its historic range, suggesting additional causes of decline^2,7. Wax palm mortality is accelerating and they suffer poor recruitment because cattle browse young trees, and logging in adjacent areas increases their susceptibility to disease^2,5,6,7. Wax palms are incredibly long-lived and slow-growing (mature individuals are over 500 years old)⁹, and are being unsustainably exploited for use in Palm Sunday celebrations within the species's range. In Ecuador, hunting for food was prolific^3,6, and trapping has had some impact in Colombia, although the species is notoriously hard to keep in captivity^6,9.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II. The traditional roost-site in Ecuador has recently been purchased and is being reforested⁸. Surveys took place early 2008 in Ecuador to determine the species's status there¹⁰. It is hoped that an awareness campaign for people living nearby has stopped hunting of parrots for food². In Colombia, awareness raising to reduce hunting pressure and the impact of Palm Sunday processions has involved poster campaigns, environmental education, community workshops, school visits and radio¹¹. Combined with on the ground actions such as surveys, fencing of breeding sites to allow wax palm regeneration, habitat restoration and provision of artificial nest boxes⁹, the species's population size has increased significantly¹¹.

Conservation measures proposed Search for additional subpopulations, with a focus on determining status within the Intag valley, Ecuador^7,8. Prepare habitat maps of the Volcán Ruiz-Tolima massif⁶. Buy and protect further habitat^6,7,8. Continue the current highly successful programme of conservation activities in Colombia and extend these to any sub-population identified within Ecuador in the future.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Juniper and Parr (1998). 2. Krabbe (1998). 3. Krabbe and Sornoza (1996). 4. López-Lanús et al. (1998). 5. Salaman et al. (1999a). 6. Salaman et al. (1999b). 7. P. G. W. Salaman in litt. (1999). 8. Snyder et al. (2000). 9. Salaman (2001). 10. O. Jahn in litt. (2007). 11. Waugh (2004). 12. ABC (2008).

Further web sources of information

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This species has been identified as an AZE trigger due to its IUCN Red List status and limited range.

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 Joe Benshemesh, Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Tom Stuart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Olaf Jahn (Aves & Conservación and Fundación EcoCiencia), Paul G. W. Salaman (Fundación ProAves)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Ognorhynchus icterotis. 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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