Justification This species is known from few areas in a very small range. Remaining habitat is fragmented, and both range and population are probably declining rapidly. As a result, it qualifies as Endangered.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author Ridgely & Robbins, 1988

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

Identification 22 cm. Overall green parakeet with variable amount of red on lores, forehead and carpal area, bluish primaries, breast lightly scalloped greyish, dull red patch on belly and reddish undertail. Similar spp. No sympatric Pyrrhura parakeets. Red-masked Parakeet A. wagleri is much larger and has more extensive red on forehead. Voice Metallic trilling tchreeet tchreeet calls in flight. Quiet chirping when perched.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

250-999

decreasing

750 km²

Yes

Range & population Pyrrhura orcesi occurs on the west slope of the Andes in south-west Ecuador (Cañar, Azuay, El Oro, Loja), where it was discovered in 1980. It is apparently confined to an area only 100 km from north to south, and a maximum of 5-10 km wide⁵, containing highly fragmented habitat, and with a population estimated at fewer than 1,000 individuals¹³. Numbers at the type-locality (Buena Ventura) fluctuate, possibly indicating seasonal movements, or a decline owing to further habitat loss⁵, but were estimated at 171 birds in 2005-2006¹³.

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

Ecology: It inhabits very humid, tropical forest from 800-1,200 m (occasionally as low as 300 m). It has been reported to tolerate some habitat fragmentation¹⁰. It generally occurs in groups of 4-15, although a flock of 60 has been observed. It feeds on various fruit (including figs Ficus spp.), fruits and Cecropia sp. flowers⁸. It appears to favour Dacryodes peruviana (Burseraceae) for nesting¹³ and breeds communally¹⁴ but a pair exhibited pre-nesting behaviour in the cavity of a small Meliaceae tree in 1997⁸, and nests have been reported in natural cavities 1.8-24 m above the ground in a variety of tree species¹⁰. The main breeding season appears to be November to March¹³. Seasonal movements to lower altitudinal forests have been reported at Buenaventura¹⁴.

Threats Below 900 m, the rate of deforestation in west Ecuador was 57% per decade in 1958-1988, although in the higher parts of its range, with steeper terrain and a harsher climate, deforestation is slower and a greater proportion of forest remains³. In particular, rapid rates of logging around Piñas and Manta Real occurred during the late 1980s and 1990s⁷. Typically, these areas were then burnt for cattle-farming. The species is particularly threatened because it does not occur above c.1,300 m. Lack of suitable nesting trees may be a limiting factor and nesting at suboptimal sites may increase predation by species such as Crimson-rumped Toucanet^11,12,13. Its favoured nesting tree Dacryodes peruviana is highly sought after and frequently targeted for human use¹³. Subpopulations may be isolated due to forest fragmentation, and the communal breeding system of the species might further increase its vulnerability to habitat loss¹⁴.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. Portions of forest at Buenaventura have been recently purchased with the aim of ensuring their long-term conservation⁶, and in 2002 and 2003 a futher 260 ha were acquired¹⁰, with the eventual aim of increasing the reserve size to 5,000 ha. The reserve protects 60 individuals year-round and c.120 birds seasonally¹⁰. A nest box scheme has recently been implemented in Buenaventura Reserve¹². An education programme was recently started involving excursions to the reserve and talks in local schools^10,12. The species may occur in the extensive Cordillera de Molleturo Protection Forest, but logging occurs within this reserve⁷.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct surveys to determine its distribution and population status⁹. Investigate its potential occurrence in the Cordillera de Molleturo Protection Forest and the area's suitability for wildlife conservation. Effectively protect Buenaventura. Assess threats to the species⁸. Monitor success of nest box scheme and extend it if appropriate.

References Collar et al. (1992). Best et al. (1993). 1. Baptista et al. (1997). 2. K. S. Berg in litt. (1999). 3. Dodson and Gentry (1991). 4. Haase (1997). 5. Juniper and Parr (1998). 6. López Lanús and Lowen (1999). 7. N. Simpson in litt. (2000). 8. Snyder et al. (2000). 9. Wege and Long (1995). 10. Schaefer and Schmidt (2003). 11. Anon (2006). 12. Waugh (2007). 13. Garzón (2007). 14. T. Schaefer 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), Tom Stuart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors K.S. Berg, David Díaz (Indio Hilfe), César Garzón (Fundación Zoobreviven), Martin Schaefer (Fundación Jocotoco), N. Simpson

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Pyrrhura orcesi. 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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