Justification The combination of high levels of exploitation for the cagebird trade, long-term habitat loss and reduced density estimates indicates that this species is declining very rapidly. It consequently qualifies as Endangered.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author (Cassin, 1853)

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

Identification 33 cm. Green parrot with striking red forehead. Blue postocular stripe extends down sides of neck. Red speculum. Dark blue primaries. Yellow tips to outer-tail feathers. Female and immature have less red on crown. Similar spp. Red-lored Parrot A. autumnalis has yellow on face, slower flight and trilling wee-ee-eee-eet voice. Yellow-headed Parrot A. oratrix has yellow head. Immature separated from adult Lilac-crowned Parrot A. finschi by mainly green crown and fewer black-tipped feathers on underparts. Voice Shrill screaming followed by three lower and ascending notes clee-u crack crack crack. Also other screaming and chattering calls.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

3,000 - 6,500

decreasing

7,900 km²

Yes

Range & population Amazona viridigenalis is locally and seasonally fairly common to common on the Atlantic slope of north-east Mexico⁵, mostly in Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí, with small colonies in extreme north-east Querétaro⁶. It formerly occurred in Nuevo León and Veracruz, but there have been no records of wild birds since 1945 and 1960 respectively. In 1992-1994, densities in one area were estimated at 5.7 birds/km², indicating a wild population of 3,000-6,500 birds^2,4. This compares with 25.2 birds/km² reported in the 1970s¹. The population recently established in urban areas of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (Texas), USA, is considered by some to consist of wild birds⁹. Introduced or feral populations are also established (and mostly increasing) in Florida and California (USA), Puerto Rico (to USA), O'ahu (Hawaii) and several parts of Mexico³.

Ecology: It inhabits lush areas in arid lowlands and foothills, especially gallery forest, deciduous woodland and dry, open pine-oak woodland on ridges up to 1,000 m. Smaller numbers occur in agricultural landscapes with a few large trees. Nests are usually in tree-cavities, with breeding from March-May. Clutches of 2-5 eggs are incubated for 25-31 days³. It is nomadic in winter, with large flocks moving south (and apparently north) and to higher elevations. It feeds largely on the fruits of dominant tree species³.

Threats In 1970-1982, 16,490 birds (mostly nestlings) were legally imported into the USA. Illegal exports from Mexico and a pre-export mortality of >50% equates to 5,000 birds per year³. Trappers damage nests when extracting chicks (sometimes felling entire trees), reducing nest-site availability and leading to permanent site abandonment⁷. Many gallery forests have been cleared or degraded, with over 80% of Tamaulipas lowlands cleared for agriculture (especially sorghum) and pasture. Habitat is now patchily distributed on cattle-ranches, where trapping pressure is greatest³.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I (1992). It occurs in El Cielo and Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserves^6,9, but there are only small colonies in Sierra Gorda and its status in El Cielo is unknown^6,8. Ranchers are increasingly aware of the benefits of maintaining large trees, but this is not reflected in practice.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct surveys to obtain an estimate for the total population size. Monitor populations to determine the extent of declines. Identify the most important nesting aggregations for protection³. Integrate ranchers into efforts to curtail trapping and regenerate habitat³.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Castro (1976). 2. Enkerlin-Hoeflich (1995). 3. Enkerlin-Hoeflich and Hogan (1997). 4. E. C. Enkerlin-Hoeflich in litt. (1994). 5. Howell and Webb (1995a). 6. A. G. Navarro in litt. (1998). 7. Snyder et al. (2000). 8. Wege and Long (1995). 9. T. Brush in litt. (2003).

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), Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Alison Stattersfield (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Tim Brush (University of Texas - Pan American), Ernesto C. Enkerlin-Hoeflich, A. G. Navarro

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Amazona viridigenalis. 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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