Justification This species qualifies as Endangered owing to a very rapid population decline. The population is now so small that lower (but still very significant) rates of decline are likely in the future.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author Ridgway, 1887

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

Identification 35-38 cm. Nominate race green with yellow head, thighs and carpal area. White orbital ring. Red bend of wing and speculum. Dark blue tips to flight feathers. Yellow tips to tail with red marks on base of outer feathers (tresmariae subspecies has yellow extending on to chest and glucose wash to underparts). Immature has yellow restricted to crown, lores, ear-coverts and throat. Subspecies belizensis and "guatemalensis" resemble immature nominate but have greyish orbital ring and lack yellow on throat. Yellow can be only forecrown patch and flecking on nape. Voice Raucous, rolled screams.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

7,000

decreasing

45,400 km²

No

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

Ecology: It inhabits dense thorn-forest, savanna, tall deciduous forest and humid riverine woodland, occasionally up to 500 m. Birds favour semi-arid regions in the northern Atlantic lowlands, but more humid savannas further south. In Belize, it inhabits pine savannas and adjacent evergreen forest patches, and "guatemalensis" occurs in coastal scrub, palm savanna and mangroves^4,12. Food privation and fire cause occasional wanderings. It nests in tree-cavities and in snags of Roystonea palms¹², with breeding occurring in February-June. Along the Michoacan Pacific coast in Mexico, the species nests in Astronium graveolens, Brosimum allicastrum and at least five other tree species¹¹. Nesting success is only 0.5 fledglings per nest². It feeds on fruit from wild and cultivated trees.

Threats Habitat loss has been extensive, with 80% of the Tamaulipas lowlands cleared for agriculture and pasture, and increasing settlement along the Western Highway in Belize⁸. In Belize, where much of the suitable habitat lies outside the national protected area system, the regions occupied by the species remain under heavy development pressure¹³. Palm savannas at the only known breeding site in Guatemala are used for non-intensive cattle-grazing¹². Many thousands of individuals of this species are illegally exported from Mexico and some from Belize each year, and it is popular in domestic markets^5,6,8. Illegal domestic traffic is intense in Mexico and may account for 38% of the species's recent distributional loss¹¹. In the Mexican states of Michoacan, Guerrero and Oaxaca, it is mainly nestlings that are taken for the pet trade¹¹. In Guatemala, it is reported that local military authorities are complicit in the illegal trade of this species, and nest poachers are reported to frequent the species's nesting site¹². In addition, hunting for food by local fishermen has been reported from Guatemala¹². In Belize, it is hunted and persecuted for damaging crops³ and is still a victim of the illicit pet trade, capture for which involves the cutting down of nesting trees¹³. Its range around coastal Michoacán is estimated to have declined by 1,507 km², of which 576 km² can not be attributed to habitat loss and thus may be due to poaching for trade¹⁰.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I. In Mexico it occurs in nine protected areas¹¹. The race magna occurs in El Cielo, Los Tuxtlas, Pantanos de Centla and Laguna de Terminos Biosphere Reserves. The race tresmarieae is protected in the Islas Marias Biosphere Reserve. The race oratrix occurs in Chamela-Cuixmala Reserve, on the Lagunas de Chacahua, Huatulco National Park, and on the recently created Zicuiran-Infiernillo Biosphere Reserve in Michoacan¹¹, as well as seven protected areas in Belize^2,6,9. The only breeding population known in Guatemala was declared a wildlife refuge in 2005, but effective protection is difficult due to organised crime in the area¹². There are several country-wide awareness campaigns in Mexico⁷. It is bred in captivity, but the reintroduction of captive-bred birds is unfeasible⁵.

Conservation measures proposed Carry out surveys to obtain an up-to-date estimate of the population size. Monitor rates of habitat loss and degradation. Monitor levels of hunting, capture and trade. Enforce trade restrictions. Effectively protect key sites such as Las Colorados Ranch, Soto La Marina/La Pesca, (Tamaulipas), río Naranjo, centred on Las Abritas (San Luis Potosí) and Punta de Manabique. Survey to identify additional important sites. Research habitat use and local movements. Continue to expand awareness campaigns.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Clay (1999). 2. E. C. Enkerlin-Hoeflich in litt. (1994). 3. S. N. G. Howell in litt. (1998). 4. Lousada and Howell (1996). 5. Low (1995b). 6. Miller and Miller (1997). 7. Roberson and Carratello (1997). 8. Somerville (1997). 9. Snyder et al. (2000). 10. Monterrubio-Rico et al. (2007). 11. T. Monterrubio-Rico et al. in litt. (2007). 12. Eisermann in litt. (2007). 13. B. Miller 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), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Knut Eisermann (PROEVAL RAXMU Bird Monitoring Program), Ernesto C. Enkerlin-Hoeflich (Inst. Tecnológico de Estudios Sup. de Monterrey), Steve Howell (Point Reyes Bird Observatory), Ma. Consuelo Marín Togo (Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo), Bruce Miller, Tiberio C. Monterrubio-Rico (Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo), Lorena Téllez García (Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo)

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

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2010) Species factsheet: Amazona oratrix. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 30/7/2010

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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