Justification Recent surveys indicate that this species has an extremely small population which continues to decline following dramatic historic declines. It occupies a very small known range. For these reasons it qualifies as Criticially Endangered.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author Salvadori, 1900

Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates)

Taxonomic note Pyrrhura leucotis (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) has been split into P. leucotis, P. griseipectus and P. pfrimeri following SACC (2005).

Identification 23 cm. Overall a green parakeet with blue in the wing, a red-brown rump, tail, belly and shoulder. The chest and breast are greyish with pale scallops. The face is plum-red while the pileum is all brown. Similar spp subtly different from P. leucotis and P. pfrimeri, having a brown pileum, a white auricular patch and a grey breast. Its coloration, especially the breast, resembles two widely disjunct taxa, P. caeruleiceps of Venezuela and P. eisenmanni from Panama. Nevertheless, P. griseipectus differs from caeruleiceps and eisenmanni in its all-brown pileum (fore- and hindcrown blue in caeruleiceps, forecrown dull red in eisenmanni), maroon cheeks (dull red in caeruleiceps and eisenmanni) and red shoulders.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

50-249

decreasing

660 km²

Yes

Range & population Pyrrhura griseipectus is known historically from four areas in north-eastern Brazil, but currently from just one of these: the Serra do Baturité in Ceará². Here it seems to be very uncommon and to have been extirpated from several areas, but there are recent records of groups in the Baturité Mountains Environmental Protection Area; surveys on 2007 of half the remaining habitat at this site revealed c.80 individuals³. The forests of the Baturité Mountains have been greatly reduced to make room for shade and sun coffee and only 13% of the forest remained in 1996. The species was formerly known from three other areas: the eastern slope of the Serra de Ibiapaba and the municipality of Quixadá, both in Ceará, and the tiny Serra Negra in Pernambuco where it was very common in 1974, with flocks of 4-6 individuals regularly seen in the early 1980s, but there are no recent records. There are also unconfirmed reports from 1991 in Murici Ecological Station in Alagoas which possibly refer to released individuals; recent fieldwork there failed to locate the species. Its known range is very small. The species has declined dramatically in the past, a trend which may be ongoing.

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

Ecology: It occurs in montane (above 500 m) humid forest enclaves in the otherwise semi-arid north-east Brazil. These wet 'sky islands' are known locally as 'brejos'. Humid forests grade into semi-deciduous forest and eventually dry, xeric caatingas in lower areas. The forests are restricted to upland granite or sandstone areas which receive up to four times the annual rainfall of lower altitudes. The humid forests atop the Baturité massif form a continuous canopy c.20 m tall, with some emergents. Birds feed on fruit and seeds in the canopy of humid and semi-deciduous forest.

Threats Habitat destruction has played a role in the species's decline with original forest cover now reduced to just 13%. Coffee plantations (especially where sun coffee is grown instead of shade coffee) are impacting upon the species's habitat. The principal threat, however, is believed to come from ongoing trapping for illegal local and national trade². The species also occurs in the international cage bird trade.

Conservation measures underway The species is listed as Critically Endangered on the Brazilian official Red List². It occurs within the Baturité Mountains Environmental Protection Area, but this area is designated for sustainable use and has not traditionally been managed for conservation. Land management by a private landowner in the area has led to an increase in one small known population². Since 2007, the Brazilian NGO Aquasis has been conducting two research projects: one sponsored by the Brazilian "Fundação O Boticário de Proteção à Natureza", surveying the Baturité Mountains to monitor its status and research its biology; and another sponsored by the Loro Parque Fundacion, searching for additional populations³. Surveys in historical sites and areas of potential habitat in 2007-2008 failed to locate the species, although there were strong indications from locals that it still occurs or occurred until recently in the degraded Serra do Estevão, Quixada municipality, Ceará state^3,4, and at Serra Negra Biological Reserve, Pernambuco state, however a combination of marijuana cultivations and hostile local culture makes survey work in the latter area difficult³. At least 11 private reserves (RPPN) are in the process of being created in the Serra de Baturité³. A Loro Parque-sponsored nest box scheme was due to take place within private reserves and on sites with sympathetic landowners between July 2008 to July 2009, and a large scale education and awareness campaign took place in the Serra de Baturité in 2008³. It breeds well in captivity and populations are held both in Brazil and abroad. Provided these are well managed and coordinated they could be used for reintroductions.

Conservation measures proposed Carry out further surveys in similar areas to the Baturité Mountains in north-eastern Brazil, such as the serras de Aratanha, Maranguape and Machado, for the presence of addtional extant populations. Continue monitoring the known population in the Serra do Baturité. Improve conservation management practised in the Guaramiranga Ecological Park. Provide incentives for landowners to increase the network of private reserves in the Baturité Mountains. Monitor and control trade at local, national and international levels. Investigate the feasibility of using artificial nests to increase reproductive success. Continue to conduct awareness campaigns to promote the Grey-breasted Parakeet as a symbol for the conservation of the moist forests and associated biodiversity in the Baturité Mountains. Investigate ex situ conservation measures.

References Olmos et al. (2005). 1. Olmos in litt. (2004). 2. C. Albano in litt. (2006). 3. C. Albano in litt. (2007, 2008). 4. Anon (2007).

Text account compilers Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Simon Mahood (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Ciro Albano (AQUASIS), Alberto Campos (AQUASIS), Weber Girao (AQUASIS), Fabio Olmos, Thieres Pinto (AQUASIS)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Pyrrhura griseipectus. 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.

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