Justification Conservation action has helped this species recover from an all-time population low in 1980. It still qualifies as Vulnerable because numbers remain very small and its range is small and restricted to a single island. However, if there are any future declines in available habitat, it may qualify for uplisting to Endangered.

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 40 cm. 40 cm. Green parrot with blue forecrown and face, with white bare orbital area. Red patch on throat (sometimes absent). Red-and-yellow speculum. Primaries tipped blackish. Similar spp. Imperial Parrot A. imperialis is larger and darker, with largely purple body. Voice Harsh screeches, squawks and yapping scre-ah, higher pitched than A. imperialis. Vocalizations are different in the northern and southern regions of Dominica.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

750 - 800

increasing

70 km²

Yes

Range & population Amazona arausiaca is concentrated around the Morne Diablotin massif in the north of Dominica, with birds also occupying habitat in the far north (Morne Au Diable region), east, south-east and centre of the island and Morne Trois Pitons National Park in the south^5,7,8. Many areas have been reoccupied after the species disappeared from them in the aftermath of the destructive Hurricane David in 1979⁵. Numbers have risen from possibly as few as 150 in 1980 to 750-800 birds in 2003⁶.

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

Ecology: It mainly occurs in the canopy of rainforests, generally at 300-800 m, but occasionally to 1,200 m ³. It was formerly a regular visitor to coastal areas³, and still descends to low elevations in October-December to search for food⁵. There are an increasing number of records from agricultural land (mainly citrus crops, passion fruit and mango)⁵. Breeding takes place in February-June, with nests usually situated in the cavities of large forest trees, such as Dacryodes excelsa and Sloanea caribaea^3,5. These are usually 11-25 m above the ground and commonly have a protective covering of vines, bromeliads or creepers^3,5.

Threats Habitat loss at lower elevations has been mainly caused by conversion to plantations, especially bananas¹, and hurricane-related damage. Another hurricane of the magnitude of Hurricane David could reverse recent population increases. Hunting and illegal trade are now low-level threats.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II. It is fully protected under domestic legislation. Much remaining habitat is within the Northern and Central Forest Reserves, the Morne Trois Pitons and Morne Diablotin National Parks but adjacent areas of critical importance are not protected³. Since 1980, it has benefited from joint government and non-government efforts to protect its habitat and sensitise local people to its needs.

Conservation measures proposed Continue enforcement of the protection of Morne Diablotin and Morne Trois Pitons National Parks and the Central and Northern Forest Reserves. Monitor the population annually. Investigate the impact of this species on agricultural crops. Investigate the effects of nest-site (and food) competition between this species and A. imperialis.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Collar (1997a). 2. Dominica Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment in litt. (2000). 3. Juniper and Parr (1998). 4. Snyder et al. (2000). 5. Zamore and Durand (1998). 6. P. R. Reillo in litt. (2003). 7. Wiley et al (2004). 8. P. R. Reillo 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), Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), David Wege (BirdLife International)

Contributors Paul Reillo (Rare Species Conservatory Foundation)

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

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

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

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