Species

Justification
This species was found in the Seychelles, but it is now Extinct as a result of hunting pressure. The last known individuals were shot in 1893, and none were found on a survey in 1906.

Taxonomic source(s)
Brooks, T. 2000. Extinct species. In: BirdLife International (ed.), Threatened birds of the world, pp. 701-708. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona and Cambridge, U.K.
Sibley, C. G.; Monroe, B. L. 1990. Distribution and taxonomy of birds of the world. Yale University Press, New Haven, USA.

Distribution and population
Psittacula wardi was endemic to Mahé and Silhouette, Seychelles, with a sight record from Praslin. A 'considerable number' were found in 1811, but it was rare by 1867 and the last specimen was shot on Mahé by Abbott in 1893. It may have survived into the 20th century (Skerrett and Disley 2011) although was apparently extinct by the time Nicoll visited the island in 1906 (Lionnet 1984). At least ten specimens exist (Forshaw and Cooper 1989).

Ecology
It was a forest species, probably feeding on fruit and seeds.

Threats
Clearance of forest for coconut plantations and shooting and trapping (in particular, to protect maize crops) were the main causes of the species's demise (Forshaw and Cooper 1989).

References
Lionnet, G. 1984. Extinct birds of the Seychelles. Monographiae Biologicae 55: 505-511.

Forshaw, J. M.; Cooper, W. T. 1989. Parrots of the world. Blandford Press, London.

Skerrett, A. and Disley, T. 2011. Birds of Seychelles. Christopher Helm, London, UK.

Text account compilers
Brooks, T., Khwaja, N., Mahood, S.

IUCN Red List evaluators
Butchart, S., Symes, A.

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Psittacula wardi. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 26/05/2013.

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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