Justification This species has a small population which is declining rapidly owing to exploitation and habitat loss. Consequently it qualifies as Vulnerable.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author (Sclater, 1864)

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

Identification 30.5-34.5cm. Bright green parrot with red forehead and lilac crown and sides of neck. Primaries tipped with bluish violet, red patch on outer secondaries, beak pale horn and legs pale grey. Ages and sexes similar, but juvenile has brownish rather than amber eyes. Similar spp. White-fronted Parrot A. albifrons is smaller, with red patch on alula and upper primary coverts. Yellow-headed Parrot A. oratrix is told by heavier build, shorter tail and yellow on head. Voice Varied and raucous, including a shrill krih-krih, a rolling krreeeih, a deeper kyah'ha and an almost raven-like krra krra.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

7,000 - 10,000

decreasing

111,000 km²

Yes

Range & population Amazona finschi is endemic to the Pacific coast of Mexico^1,2,3. Historically, its range extended from southern Sonora and southwest Chihuahua to Oaxaca^1,4. The species has been practically extirpated from Oaxaca, as well as parts of Nayarit, Jalisco, Durango, Colima and Michoacán, and has undergone significant population declines in many areas of its original range, especially in the lowlands⁵⁵. Despite local declines the species is most abundant in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán and Sinaloa⁵. A recent survey, carried out in appropriate habitat in 53 out of 77 50x50 km squares covering the species's entire range, estimated its population size to be 7,000-10,000 individuals⁵. The species has disappeared from 37% of the localities where it was historically recorded^5,11, and has shown a decline of 29% in its original distribution over the last 20 years¹⁴.

Ecology: It is reported to occur in deciduous and semi-deciduous forests along the coast, as well as pine-oak forests up to 2,000 m¹. However, semi-deciduous forest along more humid valleys at 600-1000 m is optimal breeding habitat^5,6, and provides key food resources during the dry season⁷. A low toleration to human perturbation is evident as the species is encountered more frequently in protected than in degraded woodland⁵. Seasonality plays an important role in the species's life history as it may trigger altitudinal and latitudinal migrations⁸ and affect daily activity. The species shows a low rate of reproduction¹³.

Threats Capture for domestic and international trade is the major threat to wild populations. Illegal trade is intensive and widespread, and Amazona finschi is one of the most frequently confiscated Mexican parrots¹¹. During 1981-2001, 4,061 individuals were traded internationally, of which 79% were exported directly from Mexico and 64% were taken from the wild¹⁰. Adults and juveniles are easily netted in large numbers because of their habit of congregating at communal roost sites late in the afternoon^11,13. Chicks are commonly poached from nests¹¹. During interviews with local people throughout the species's range, 75% reported poaching in their area¹¹. Habitat loss and degradation, mostly for conversion to both small-holder and large-scale cultivation and pasture^15,16, is also a serious threat, with semi-deciduous forest along the Pacific coast being lost at a greater rate than any other forest type in Mexico^11,12, resulting in the destruction of nest sites and reduction in the extent of this crucial breeding habitat¹³. Large development projects, such as dams, have also resulted in loss of breeding habitat for the species¹⁶. Semi-deciduous forest now covers only 5,106 km² within the species's range^5,11. Decreases in rainfall that could result from global climate change would result in declines in the reproductive potential of wild populations in tropical dry forests¹⁶.

Conservation measures underway In 1999, the Mexican government established a Plan for the Conservation, Protection and Recuperation of Psittacines in Mexico, within which A. finschi is considered a priority species⁹. In 2004, the species was upgraded to CITES Appendix 1, and in 2007, a proposal was approved for the species to be upgraded in 2008 from 'Threatened' to 'Endangered' under Mexican wildlife law¹⁶. In Mexico, considerable efforts have been made to tackle illegal national trade, with at least 52 seizures during 1997-2003¹⁴. Inspections in Mexico resulted in the seizure of 266 live individuals of the species being offered illegally in the pet trade from 1995 to 2003¹⁴. The species is found in three Biosphere Reserves; Sierra de Alamos-Arroyo Cuchujaqui, southern Sonora, and Chamela-Cuixmala and Sierra de Manantlán, Jalisco, and is reported to occur in seven Important Bird Areas, however some of these lack official protection or conservation programmes¹⁰.

Conservation measures proposed Monitor population trends through regular surveys. Monitor levels of habitat destruction and degradation. Implement trade regulation strategies in the 1999 plan. Conduct outreach work and environmental education as outlined in the 1999 plan. Carry out habitat conservation and the recovery of wild populations as recommended in the 1999 Plan. Monitor the success of strategies from the 1999 plan.

References 1. Forshaw (1989). 2. Collar (1997). 3. Juniper and Parr (1998). 4. Howell and Webb (1995). 5. Renton and Elias (2003). 6. Renton and Salinas-Melgoza (1999). 7. Renton (2001). 8. Renton et al. (2001). 9. Macias Caballero et al. (2000). 10. CITES (2004a). 11. K. Renton in litt. (2005). 12. Masera et al. (1996). 13. Renton (2005). 14. CITES (2004b). 15. A. Salinas in litt. (2007). 16. K. Renton in litt. (2007).

Text account compilers Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International), Helen Temple (BirdLife International)

Contributors Katherine Renton (Estacion de Biologia Chamela), Alejandro Salinas

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

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