Justification This species is listed as Vulnerable because its small population consists of very small, scattered subpopulations that are likely to be undergoing continuing declines, owing to widespread habitat loss.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author (Des Murs, 1845)

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

Identification 23 cm. Chunky, mainly green parrot. Dull orange crown. Yellow lores. Orange-red cheeks with yellow streaking. Buff-olive breast. Otherwise green with red shoulder, blue secondary coverts and dark bluish primaries. Red tail with violet tip. Immature less streaked and duller on face. Similar spp. From Fuertes's Parrot H. fuertesi by more extensive red on head, yellow streaking on sides of head and contrasting golden-olive hindneck. Several sympatric Pionus are slightly larger with proportionately shorter tails and different flight action. Voice Flight call a loud, high pitch metallic screech. When perched a softer metallic rreek.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

2,500-9,999

decreasing

26,400 km²

No

Range & population Hapalopsittaca amazonina has three subspecies in the Andes of Venezuela and Colombia. Subspecies theresae is restricted to the Sierra de Mérida (Trujillo⁹, Mérida and Táchira), Venezuela. Nominate amazonina occurs on both slopes of the East Andes in south-west Táchira, Venezuela; and Cundinamarca, Boyacá and historically Norte de Santander and Santander, Colombia. Subspecies velezi is known from both slopes of the Central Andes in Caldas, Risaralda¹² and Tolima⁴, Colombia. There are recent sightings of Hapalopsittaca species from the head of the Madgalena valley, Huila, Colombia, and northern Ecuador^5,7, probably all amazonina². A recent Colombian population estimate of 2,500-10,000 individuals based on a hypothetical density c.1 individual/km² and 25% occupancy of the estimated 13,890 km² of suitable habitat¹³ may be over-generous, but it is likely that the Colombian population numbers several thousand birds¹⁴. There are c. 250 birds of the nominate subspecies in the Soata bird reserve, Boyacá¹⁷. The Venezuelan population is probably small and declining, although it is encountered regularly along the Humboldt trail in central Mérida¹⁵.

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

Ecology: It occupies wet, epiphyte-rich cloud-forest, adjacent subtropical forest and treeline scrub at 2,000-3,000 m, mainly above 2,500 m. It feeds mainly in the canopy on fruit, blossoms and seeds^1,2,16. Migration between seasonal feeding grounds possibly occurs¹.

Threats Historical localities in the northern East Andes are now wholly deforested^2,8. Vast areas have been logged, cleared and used for agriculture, illegal drug plantations, infrastructure development and mining¹¹. Frequent burning, intense grazing and, locally, potato cultivation continue to lower the timberline in many areas. If dependent on fluctuating food-resources, it may be particularly sensitive to habitat alteration¹.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix II. It occurs in several protected areas, notably Guaramacal (Trujillo)⁹, El Tamá (Táchira) and Sierra Nevada (Mérida) National Parks in Venezuela. In Colombia it is protected in Sumapáz and Chingaza National Parks and adjacent protected areas in Cundinamarca and Ucumarí Regional Park, Risaralda, and Soata Bird Reserve, Boyacá¹¹. The localities in Huila are protected. However, some of these protected areas are insecure, e.g. Valle de Jesús Communal Reserve (Cundinamarca), El Tamá and Sierra Nevada^6,12.

Conservation measures proposed Confirm the identification of the Hapalopsittaca species in Huila and Ecuador. Determine its status in Guanentá-Alto Río Fonce Flora and Fauna Sanctuary and Cocuy National Park¹⁷. Research its distribution, ecology and threats⁶. Prepare management plans and increase protection in protected areas¹⁰.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Brockner (1998). 2. Juniper and Parr (1998). 4. B. López-Lanús in litt. (2000). 5. Robbins et al. (1994a). 6. Rodríguez and Rojas-Suárez (1995). 7. G. H. Rosenberg in litt. (2000). 8. P. G. W. Salaman in litt. (1999). 9. Sharpe et al. (2001). 10. Snyder et al. (2000). 11. Stiles et al. (1999). 12. R. Strewe in litt. (1999). 13. Renjifo et al. (2002). 14. P. G. W. Salaman in litt. (2005). 15. C. Sharpe in litt. (2003). 16. Weller and Renjifo (2003). 17. O. Cortes and A. Hernandez-Jaramillo 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), Matt Harding (BirdLife International), Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Tom Stuart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors B. López-Lanús, G. H. Rosenberg, Paul G. W. Salaman (Fundación ProAves), Chris J. Sharpe, Ralf Strewe (Alianza para Ecosistemas Críticos)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Hapalopsittaca amazonina. 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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