Justification Conservation action may have saved this species from extinction. Numbers are now increasing and there is some evidence of a small range expansion. However, the area of apparently suitable (but unoccupied) habitat may be decreasing. If this begins to affect occupied habitat, the species may immediately qualify for uplisting to Endangered. At present, its small population size and small range on a single island qualify it as Vulnerable.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author (Müller, 1776)

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

Identification 43 cm. Colourful parrot. Blue face and forehead. Red area on breast becoming maroon and mottled on lower breast and belly. Red speculum. Dark blue primaries. Tail tipped yellow. Similar spp. Only parrot on St Lucia. Voice Noisy and raucous screeching. Also purring, cackling, shrieking and honking noises.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

350 - 500

increasing

140 km²

Yes

Range & population Amazona versicolor occurs in the central-southern mountains of St Lucia. In 1950, there were 295 km² of available habitat, but this has been reduced rapidly since the mid-1970s. There have been considerable population declines, but these are being reversed by concerted conservation action. Surveys in 1996 estimated the wild population at c.350-500 individuals⁴, and noted some range expansion³.

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

Ecology: It favours montane, moist primary forest, mainly at 500-900 m, but also forages in secondary growth⁴. It nests in tree-holes, and breeding takes place in February-March or later¹. Breeding success is apparently similar to other Caribbean and mainland Amazona parrots³.

Threats The human population of St Lucia is growing at a considerable rate, increasing pressure on the forest and resulting in habitat loss². Selective logging of mature trees may significantly reduce breeding sites⁴, and hurricanes, hunting and trade pose further threats. There have been recent efforts to lift the moratorium on hunting within forest reserves, which would seriously threaten this species³.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II. It is protected by domestic legislation³. Education and awareness programmes have turned the bird into a national symbol. This has successfully eliminated hunting⁴, helped by a moratorium on hunting within forest reserves³. A captive-breeding programme was established in 1975, and in 1995 a total of 19 young birds had fledged².

Conservation measures proposed Maintain the hunting moratorium within all forest reserves. Conduct a basic study of the feeding and breeding ecology. Designate remaining habitat as protected areas. Reassess the objectives of the captive-breeding programme.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Collar (1997a). 2. Copsey (1995). 3. J. D. Gilardi in litt. (1999). 4. Juniper and Parr (1998).

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), Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), David Wege (BirdLife International)

Contributors J. D. Gilardi

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International)

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

To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife

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