Justification This species qualifies as Endangered because it has been affected by very rapid rates of population decline caused by trapping for the cagebird trade, plus habitat loss. Future population declines are projected to be slower, but still a serious cause for concern.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author (Latham, 1801)

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

Synonyms Brotogeris pyrrhopterus BirdLife International (2004), Brotogeris pyrrhopterus BirdLife International (2000), Brotogeris pyrrhopterus Collar et al. (1994), Brotogeris pyrrhopterus Collar and Andrew (1988), Brotogeris pyrrhopterus Stotz et al. (1996), Brotogeris pyrrhopterus Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Taxonomic note Gender agreement of species name follows David and Gosselin (2002b).

Identification 20 cm. Largely green parakeet with bluish crown, pale grey cheeks, bluish primary coverts, orange underwing-coverts. Large pale bill. Immature has green crown. Similar spp. Noticeably smaller than sympatric parrots, except tiny Pacific Parrotlet Forpus coelestis, which is much smaller and shorter tailed. Voice Flight call a trilling stleeet stleeet. When perched a grating stteeet stteeet.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

15,000

decreasing

9,300 km²

No

Range & population Brotogeris pyrrhoptera occurs in south-west Ecuador and extreme north-west Peru, from the río Chone valley, Manabí, south to El Oro and Loja, Ecuador, and Tumbes and Piura in Peru⁶. The largest populations are in coastal Manabí and Guayas, and on the Ecuador/Peru border⁶. A population decrease during the 20th century became marked in the early 1980s^3,6, with 59,320 birds reportedly imported by CITES countries in 1983-1988³. In 1995, the wild population was estimated at 15,000 birds, principally in Ecuador³. This represents a very crude decline of c.70% in 10 years, although it is still locally common in suitable habitat remnants⁶.

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

Ecology: The species is most numerous in deciduous forest dominated by Ceiba trichistandra, but it also occurs in humid evergreen forest, arid Acacia-dominated scrub and semi-open agricultural areas³, and probably only sporadically in heavily degraded areas⁶. It usually occurs in pairs or small flocks, foraging for flowers, seeds, fruit and catkins², with Ceiba fruit apparently preferred⁹. Small flocks have also been recorded taking bananas and maize^3,6. Breeding has been noted in February-August, but the main breeding period probably coincides with the wet season (January-March)³. However, local people in Loja, Ecuador, claim it breeds in September-October⁵.

Threats The cage-bird trade is the principal threat. Numbers imported by CITES countries represent an absolute minimum of those in international trade, and exclude internal trade. Natural habitats are being rapidly destroyed through agricultural conversion, logging and grazing by goats and cattle, which prevents forest regeneration and seriously threatens deciduous forests⁹. The extent to which the loss of habitat and potential nest-site affects it is unclear³. Persecution as a crop-pest may also be significant².

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. International trade is banned in both Ecuador and Peru⁶. It occurs in several protected areas, of which Cerro Blanco Protection Forest, Ecuador, and Tumbes Reserved Zone, Peru, are particularly important, with daily counts of over 50 individuals^2,8,9.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct surveys and other research to determine population size². Determine its habitat requirements and ecology, especially the timing of the breeding season². Enforce strict trade bans, coupled with conservation education programmes².

References 1. Berg (1994). 2. Best (1992). 3. Best et al. (1995). 4. E. Horstman in litt. (2000). 5. Jiggins et al. (1999). 6. Juniper and Parr (1998). 7. Lowen (1998). 8. Parker et al. (1995). 9. Pople et al. (1997).

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Eric Horstman (Fundación Pro-Bosque), Huw Lloyd (Manchester Metropolitan University)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Brotogeris pyrrhoptera. 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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