Eunymphicus cornutus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	PSITTACIFORMES	PSITTACIDAE

Scientific Name:

Eunymphicus cornutus

Species Authority:

(Gmelin, 1788)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Horned Parakeet
Spanish	–	Perico Cornudo

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable B1ab(ii,iii,v);C2a(ii) ver 3.1

Year Published:

2009

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Symes, A., Butchart, S., Bird, J.

Contributor/s:

Meresse, C., Barré, N., Chartendrault, V., Dutson, G., Létocart, Y., Spaggiari, J., Robinet, O., Meriot, J., Ekstrom, J., Thiollay, J.

Justification:
This species has been downlisted as recent surveys indicate that there are over 2,500 mature individuals. Nevertheless, the total population remains small, and it is restricted to a single subpopulation which is suspected to have declined owing to habitat degradation, and it therefore qualifies as Vulnerable.

History:

2008	–	Endangered
2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Endangered
1996	–	Vulnerable
1994	–	Not Recognized
1988	–	Not Recognized

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Eunymphicus cornutus is endemic to New Caledonia (to France). It appears to have declined since the 1880s when it was reported from all forested areas, and it has disappeared from Mt Panié². Its numbers and trends were poorly known, until 2003-2006 there were only two independent population estimates of 1,000-3,000 birds² and 720 pairs¹ respectively. Recent surveys indicate that the bird has a wider distribution and is more common than previously believed. A rough estimate produced from these recent surveys indicates that the population may be c.8000 individuals, and although this is likely to be an overestimate the total population is still thought to be at least 5,000 mature individuals¹⁴. During the 2003-2006 surveys the species was recorded from the Ignambi massif in the north to the various massifs of the Grand Sud in the south. It was recorded on 57 % of the massifs in the northern province and 42 % of the massifs in the southern province. It is absent from the Ile des Pins. It is locally common in the center part of the "chaîne" (Mé Maoya Massif, Moindou-Farino area, Poindimié-Ponérihouen area)¹³. Numbers have remained stable in Rivière Bleue in the last 20 years⁵.
Countries:	Native: New Caledonia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Population considered to be over 2,500 mature individuals, based on extensive surveys conducted in 2003-2006 by the Institut Agronomique néo-Calédonien (IAC) (Chartendrault and Barré, 2005, 2006).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is patchily distributed in humid forest to 1,500 m, but it also ranges in the valleys and into savannas, low-stature forest and scrub in maquis and high mountains^2,8,9,13. Pairs or small flocks (family flocks in April-June) feed in the canopy, largely on seeds and nuts². Nests have been found on the ground, including under rocks and in fallen tree-trunks^3,6, and it has recently been recorded nesting in tree holes¹¹. It probably migrates seasonally to foraging grounds during the austral winter (June-September)¹³. Birds have been seen crossing scrub between forest blocks, and it is not believed to be fragmented into distinct subpopulations^2,5. Birds have been seen in large groups, feeding in savannah¹⁴ and the species is seen every year in the valleys, feeding in close proximity to rural dwellings and in open areas.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It is patchily distributed in humid forest to 1,500 m, but it also ranges in the valleys and into savannas, low-stature forest and scrub in maquis and high mountains^2,8,9,13. Pairs or small flocks (family flocks in April-June) feed in the canopy, largely on seeds and nuts². Nests have been found on the ground, including under rocks and in fallen tree-trunks^3,6, and it has recently been recorded nesting in tree holes¹¹. It probably migrates seasonally to foraging grounds during the austral winter (June-September)¹³. Birds have been seen crossing scrub between forest blocks, and it is not believed to be fragmented into distinct subpopulations^2,5. Birds have been seen in large groups, feeding in savannah¹⁴ and the species is seen every year in the valleys, feeding in close proximity to rural dwellings and in open areas.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Populations may be declining through habitat degradation, both through logging and by an introduced deer, Javan Rusa Rusa timorensis¹³. It may be susceptible when nesting to predation by introduced mammals, especially rats^2,7, as there are fewer parakeets in areas with high black rat abundance¹². There is little documented trapping or trade, and although there are captive birds on the island and birds are locally sought by collectors for trade this seems to be marginal - there are no important local traditions in keeping pet birds^1,2,13. There is occasional illegal hunting¹⁵.

Major Threat(s):

Populations may be declining through habitat degradation, both through logging and by an introduced deer, Javan Rusa Rusa timorensis¹³. It may be susceptible when nesting to predation by introduced mammals, especially rats^2,7, as there are fewer parakeets in areas with high black rat abundance¹². There is little documented trapping or trade, and although there are captive birds on the island and birds are locally sought by collectors for trade this seems to be marginal - there are no important local traditions in keeping pet birds^1,2,13. There is occasional illegal hunting¹⁵.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix I and II, and fully protected by New Caledonian law. There are significant populations in Rivière Bleue and Reserve Speciale de Faune et de Flore de la Nodela². Conservation Actions Proposed Survey other forest blocks within its extent of occurrence^2,9. Investigate the breeding biology to identify any limiting factors such as nest failures or rat predation^2,9. Research ecological dependence on certain tree species for nesting or feeding^2,9. Investigate dispersal between isolated forest blocks^2,9. Continue to monitor numbers in Rivière Bleue^2,10. Start a monitoring programme in Nodela². Monitor for any evidence of trapping and trade^2,5,6. Consider an Action Plan similar to that of E. uvaeensis^1,2,5,6. Initiate control measures against introduced predators. Increase the area of suitable habitat that has protected status.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I and II, and fully protected by New Caledonian law. There are significant populations in Rivière Bleue and Reserve Speciale de Faune et de Flore de la Nodela².

Conservation Actions Proposed
Survey other forest blocks within its extent of occurrence^2,9. Investigate the breeding biology to identify any limiting factors such as nest failures or rat predation^2,9. Research ecological dependence on certain tree species for nesting or feeding^2,9. Investigate dispersal between isolated forest blocks^2,9. Continue to monitor numbers in Rivière Bleue^2,10. Start a monitoring programme in Nodela². Monitor for any evidence of trapping and trade^2,5,6. Consider an Action Plan similar to that of E. uvaeensis^1,2,5,6. Initiate control measures against introduced predators. Increase the area of suitable habitat that has protected status.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2009. Eunymphicus cornutus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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