Justification Conservation action has slowly begun to improve the status of this species. Numbers have increased in recent years, but there are still fewer than 250 mature individuals, qualifying the species as Endangered. If the population continues to increase, it will be eventually downlisted to Vulnerable unless there are concomitant decreases in available habitat.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author Richmond, 1899

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

Identification 45 cm. Spectacular, purple-and-green parrot. Dark purple head, nape and mantle. Purple underparts with dark fringes giving scaled effect. Dull green thighs and vent. Green wings with red carpal. Purple speculum and blackish primaries. Reddish tail tipped green. Immature has green nape and neck. Similar spp. Red-necked Parrot A. arausiaca is smaller and largely green. Voice Loud, trumpet-like flight calls. Also variety of shrieks, whistles and squawks. Often quiet during middle of day.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

150

increasing

50 km²

Yes

Range & population Amazona imperialis is endemic to Dominica, where it occurs in the Morne Diablotin area (primarily on the north-east and south-east slopes³), the Northern and Central Forest Reserves, and has recently re-established a small population in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park^7,8,9. It is known to have declined significantly and numbered only 80-100 individuals in 1993. Conservation action increased the population to 150 birds by 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 inhabits montane and elfin forest at 600-1,300 m, but forages down to 150 m in response to food shortages^2,4. It is highly sensitive to habitat modification, readily abandoning traditional foraging and nesting territories². Nests are situated in cavities in tall forest trees (the same species as used by A. arausiaca), with breeding between February and June (coinciding with the dry season). The nest cavity is heavily festooned with vines and epiphytes, making observation of nesting activity difficult². Despite the intensive work carried out towards this species' conservation, its ecology remains poorly known.

Threats A combination of habitat loss (mainly conversion to plantations, especially bananas⁴, and hurricane-related damage), hunting for food and trapping for the cage-bird trade were the principal reasons for this species's decline. Local trade has been considerably reduced, if not eliminated, as a result of a successful education programme, but foreign bird-collectors may still pose a threat⁴. Competition for nest-sites from the more numerous A. arausiaca will presumably become more significant as lowland forest is lost and the two species come increasingly into contact².

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II. It is protected by domestic legislation. In recent years, there have been considerable efforts to protect suitable habitat and sensitise local citizens to its needs. Successful conservation education programmes have markedly reduced local trade. It is protected in the Northern Forest Reserve and the Central Forest Reserve, but important areas adjacent to these reserves remain unprotected^2,4. An area of 33 km² of the Northern Forest Reserve has been designated as the Morne Diablotin National Park^1,8. It is also present in small numbers in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park^7,8.

Conservation measures proposed Monitor the population. Continue enforcement of the protection of the Morne Diablotin and Morne Trois Pitons National Parks, and the Northern and Central Forest Reserves Study the ecology of this species and factors affecting its status (including interspecific competition)^2,5,8.

References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Collar (1997a). 2. Dominica Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment in litt. (2000). 3. Raffaele et al. (1998). 4. Snyder et al. (2000). 5. Zamore and Durand (1998). 6. P. R. Reillo in litt. (2003). 7. Reillo (2001). 8. Wiley et al (2007). 9. P. R. Reillo in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) species/site profile. This species has been identified as an AZE trigger due to its IUCN Red List status and limited range.

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 imperialis. 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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