Justification The population of this species is in decline, although this has not been well quantified. It occurs at few locations in a small range, and continuing declines in the extent, area and quality of its fragmented habitat qualify it as Vulnerable.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author Moore, 1947

Taxonomic source(s) AOU checklist (1998 + supplements), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Identification 40-45 cm. Macaw-like, heavy-billed, dark green parrot. Adults have maroon forehead and eye-stripe, dark red shoulder and thighs, yellow eye ring, long and pointed tail. Flight feathers and graduated tail appear blackish from below. Very heavy, dark bill. First year birds have pale bill and lack maroon on eyebrow, red on shoulder and yellow eye ring. Similar spp. Military Macaw Ara militaris is larger, has longer tail and blue in flight feathers and rump. Thick-billed Parrot R. pachyrhyncha is a similar green colour but is smaller, and has yellow in underwing, and red head markings. Voice High, rolling cr-a ak. Distant groups sound like Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500

decreasing

1,300 km²

Yes

Range & population Rhynchopsitta terrisi is restricted to c. 18,000 km² of the Sierra Madre Oriental in Nuevo León, Coahuila and Tamaulipas, Mexico, where there is presently no more than 5,000 km² of suitable habitat¹⁰. During winter 1998, some birds were recorded in the Sierra Gorda, Querétaro⁴, suggesting wanderers reach the south of the Sierra Madre Oriental. By 1998, 21 colonies had been identified^2,5, with 23 known by 2006⁸, but it is still unclear whether it breeds c.25 km south of that range at Cerro Potosí. Counts of large wintering aggregations and productivity data from 1996 to 2007 suggest that the known colonies could account for almost the entire breeding population¹⁰. There are four main colonies (El Taray, El Condominio, San Antonio de la Osamenta and Santa Cruz², with El Taray the most important⁹). Population estimates are hampered by its seasonal movements, but numbers were put at 2,500-3,000 individuals in 1996², and c.2,500 individuals following surveys in 2006-2007¹⁰. Comparisons with the 1,400 and 1,600 birds estimated in the 1970s indicates that population levels have been relatively stable up until the mid-1990s^2,5. However, numbers of breeding pairs at known colonies have been declining, there is poor breeding success and the species's habitat is being destroyed¹⁰.

Ecology: It inhabits mature pine, pine-oak and mixed conifer forest at 2,000-3,500 m, and exceptionally 1,300-3,700 m. It nests colonially in solution holes in limestone cliffs. Breeding follows the fruiting pattern of pines, with pairs arriving between April and May⁹, laying in early July and fledging in October-November^2,9. Pairs produce an average of two chicks (range 1-4), and the whole population produces up to 150 young per year^2,10. It feeds almost exclusively on pinions, depends on daily access to free-flowing water and groups congregate at clay licks to eat earth^5,7. In addition to pinions, it also eats agave flowers, fruits and acorns^9,10. Seasonal migrations or relatively predictable nomadic movements occur between the northern and southern range limits. Following the post-breeding migration to the southern part of its range, it forms large aggregations⁸.

Threats Intensive grazing and agricultural conversion have destroyed and degraded forest^2,6. Annual fires burn large areas (in 1998, 20 km² of foraging habitat were lost¹, and 20 km² of pine forest, including 90% of El Taray Sanctuary, were lost to two wildfires in 2005-2006^9,10), which regenerate as dense (and unsuitable) 'chaparral' vegetation^2,6. Droughts fuel fires and dry up natural water sources (in 1994, at least 50 birds drowned whilst attempting to drink from a cement-walled water tank⁷). Additionally, the species is affected by low pinion production, and pressure from local people who collect pinions as an alternative income source¹⁰. Forest is also cleared for timber extraction⁹. The species is affected by some trapping and shooting^8,9 and may experience years of low breeding success⁸ or even zero recruitment¹⁰.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II. The species is protected by Mexican law; formerly considered 'threatened' in Mexico, its status was recently revised to Endangered¹⁰. The El Taray Sanctuary encompasses 3.5 km² of habitat², but this is not effectively protected¹⁰. A conservation plan has been put in effect, focusing on the main colony of El Condominio, including effective protection of 15 km² through contracts with individual land-owners and owners of ejidos (communally owned land)¹⁰. Significant numbers breed in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, but this is not effectively protected^2,3. Since 1995, nesting has been monitored at the 23 known breeding colonies⁸; to date this includes 23 known colonies¹⁰. Plans had been made in 2006 to involve local people in the restoration of areas affected by fires, wildlife monitoring and the prevention of soil erosion⁹. There are no protected sites in the species's wintering areas⁸, but conservation efforts include future projects for the protection of 80 km² of forest¹⁰.

Conservation measures proposed Protect all nesting colonies and wintering areas¹⁰. Conduct surveys to search for undiscovered colonies. Monitor rates of habitat loss and degradation throughout its range. Actively control fires. Restore habitat affected by fires⁹. Determine precise habitat usage². Implement a permanent environmental education programme for local communities¹⁰. Develop alternative sustainable activities for local people in order to decrease pressure on habitat¹⁰.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Gómez-Garza and Garza-Tobón (1998). 2. Macias Caballero (1998). 3. C. Macias Caballero and E. C. Enkerlin-Hoeflich in litt. (1999). 4. R. Pedraza in litt. (1998). 5. Snyder and Enkerlin (1996). 6. Snyder et al. (1996). 7. Snyder et al. (2000). 8. Ortiz-Maciel et al. (2006). 9. Valdés-Peña and Ortiz Maciel (2007). 10. R. Valdés-Peña et al. 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), David Capper (BirdLife International), Juan Mazar Barnett (Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales), John Pilgrim (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Ernesto C. Enkerlin-Hoeflich (Inst. Tecnológico de Estudios Sup. de Monterrey), Claudia Macias-Caballero (Inst. Tecnológico de Estudios Sup. de Monterrey), Sonia Gabriela Ortiz-Maciel (Inst. Tecnológico de Estudios Sup. de Monterrey), R. Pedraza (Sierra Gorda), René Valdés-Peña (Inst. Tecnológico de Estudios Sup. de Monterrey)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Rhynchopsitta terrisi. 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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