Ognorhynchus icterotis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Bibliography

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	PSITTACIFORMES	PSITTACIDAE

Scientific Name:

Ognorhynchus icterotis

Species Authority:

(Massena & Souancé, 1854)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Yellow-eared Conure, Yellow-eared Parrot
Spanish	–	Aratinga Orejigualda, Periquito Orejiamarillo

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered D ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Calvert, R., Symes, A., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Salaman, P., Jahn, O.

Justification:
This species has been downlisted as intensive conservation action has stabilised its current range and resulted in an increase in the number of mature individuals. The species is currently retained as Endangered as the known population of mature individuals is extremely small. However, should the number of mature individuals continue to increase the species may be downlisted again in the future.

History:

2009	–	Critically Endangered
2008	–	Critically Endangered
2004	–	Critically Endangered
2000	–	Critically Endangered
1996	–	Critically Endangered
1994	–	Critically Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Ognorhynchus icterotis formerly occurred in all three Andean ranges of Colombia, from Norte de Santander and Antioquia to Nariño and in north-west Ecuador, south to Cotopaxi. It persists in the Central Andes of Colombia^2,4,5, although its whereabouts for much of the year are unknown^3,5. It was once common to abundant, but is now potentially extinct in Ecuador (although there have been unconfirmed reports of flocks of c.20 individuals in the Intag valley since 2000¹⁰) and when re-discovered in Colombia in 1999 there were only estimated to be 81 birds. Intensive conservation actions have since seen the population dramatically recover. In 2004 the population reached a peak of 660 individuals, although the population declined in 2005 and 2006 to 554 birds, thought to be caused by individuals leaving to establish satellite populations which subsequently failed to establish. However, the population has continued to increase since, and in 2009 was recorded at over 1,000 individuals, with three separate breeding populations on the slopes of the Western, Central and Eastern Cordillera. Although breeding success is good, the species's breeding requirements and highly fragmented habitat will continue to challenge its recovery¹⁵.
Countries:	Native: Colombia
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The current population is thought to comprise 1,103 individuals. However, a maximum of only 212 individuals have bred in recent years (ProAves Fundacion in litt. 2010), hence this figure is used for the current population of mature individuals.
Population Trend:	Increasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits humid montane forest, elfin forest and partially cleared terrain at 1,200-3,400 m, favouring areas dominated by wax palms Ceroxylon quindiuense, in which it roosts, nests and feeds^1,2,5,7. Although currently resident at one site^4,6, other flocks wander seasonally in search of food (bark, buds and fruiting/seeding blooms of Ceroxylon, Citharexylon, Podocarpus and Sapium spp., as well as a variety of fern species)^2,6,7,13. Two breeding cycles in April-November were noted at one colony^1,6. Breeding pairs enlist the help of 'brood-helpers' during the chick-rearing stage⁹.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It inhabits humid montane forest, elfin forest and partially cleared terrain at 1,200-3,400 m, favouring areas dominated by wax palms Ceroxylon quindiuense, in which it roosts, nests and feeds^1,2,5,7. Although currently resident at one site^4,6, other flocks wander seasonally in search of food (bark, buds and fruiting/seeding blooms of Ceroxylon, Citharexylon, Podocarpus and Sapium spp., as well as a variety of fern species)^2,6,7,13. Two breeding cycles in April-November were noted at one colony^1,6. Breeding pairs enlist the help of 'brood-helpers' during the chick-rearing stage⁹.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Its range appears to be heavily restricted by the spread of exotic forest, and occurs only in native forest¹⁴. It has suffered considerable habitat loss and fragmentation (90-93% of montane forest in Colombia) throughout its range^6,8; however several sizeable areas of habitat remain within its historic range, suggesting additional causes of decline^2,7. Wax palm mortality is accelerating and they suffer poor recruitment because cattle browse young trees, and logging in adjacent areas increases their susceptibility to disease^2,5,6,7. Wax palms are incredibly long-lived and slow-growing (mature individuals are over 500 years old)⁹, and are being unsustainably exploited for use in Palm Sunday celebrations within the species's range. In Ecuador, hunting for food was prolific^3,6, and trapping has had some impact in Colombia, although the species is notoriously hard to keep in captivity^6,9.

Major Threat(s):

Its range appears to be heavily restricted by the spread of exotic forest, and occurs only in native forest¹⁴. It has suffered considerable habitat loss and fragmentation (90-93% of montane forest in Colombia) throughout its range^6,8; however several sizeable areas of habitat remain within its historic range, suggesting additional causes of decline^2,7. Wax palm mortality is accelerating and they suffer poor recruitment because cattle browse young trees, and logging in adjacent areas increases their susceptibility to disease^2,5,6,7. Wax palms are incredibly long-lived and slow-growing (mature individuals are over 500 years old)⁹, and are being unsustainably exploited for use in Palm Sunday celebrations within the species's range. In Ecuador, hunting for food was prolific^3,6, and trapping has had some impact in Colombia, although the species is notoriously hard to keep in captivity^6,9.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix I and II. The traditional roost-site in Ecuador has recently been purchased and is being reforested⁸. Surveys took place early 2008 in Ecuador to determine the species's status there¹⁰. It is hoped that an awareness campaign for people living nearby has stopped hunting of parrots for food². In Colombia, awareness raising to reduce hunting pressure and the impact of Palm Sunday processions has involved poster campaigns, environmental education, community workshops, school visits and radio¹¹. Combined with on the ground actions such as surveys, fencing of breeding sites to allow wax palm regeneration, habitat restoration and provision of artificial nest boxes⁹, the species's population size has increased significantly^11,15. In 2009, ProAves, the Loro Parque Fundacion, the American Bird Conservancy and others established a corridor of over 16,000 acres (including the acquisition of over 10,000 acres) for Ognorhynchus and other threatened parrots across the Central Cordillera in Colombia¹⁵. Conservation Actions Proposed Search for additional subpopulations, with a focus on determining status within the Intag valley, Ecuador^7,8. Prepare habitat maps of the Volcán Ruiz-Tolima massif⁶. Buy and protect further habitat^6,7,8. Continue the current highly successful programme of conservation activities in Colombia and extend these to any sub-population identified within Ecuador in the future.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I and II. The traditional roost-site in Ecuador has recently been purchased and is being reforested⁸. Surveys took place early 2008 in Ecuador to determine the species's status there¹⁰. It is hoped that an awareness campaign for people living nearby has stopped hunting of parrots for food². In Colombia, awareness raising to reduce hunting pressure and the impact of Palm Sunday processions has involved poster campaigns, environmental education, community workshops, school visits and radio¹¹. Combined with on the ground actions such as surveys, fencing of breeding sites to allow wax palm regeneration, habitat restoration and provision of artificial nest boxes⁹, the species's population size has increased significantly^11,15. In 2009, ProAves, the Loro Parque Fundacion, the American Bird Conservancy and others established a corridor of over 16,000 acres (including the acquisition of over 10,000 acres) for Ognorhynchus and other threatened parrots across the Central Cordillera in Colombia¹⁵.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Search for additional subpopulations, with a focus on determining status within the Intag valley, Ecuador^7,8. Prepare habitat maps of the Volcán Ruiz-Tolima massif⁶. Buy and protect further habitat^6,7,8. Continue the current highly successful programme of conservation activities in Colombia and extend these to any sub-population identified within Ecuador in the future.

Bibliography [top]

	American Bird Conservancy. 2008. Huge boost for Endangered Yellow-eared Parrot. Available at: #http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/stories/081219.html#. Arosa, M. L.; Ramos, J. A.; Valkenburg, T.; Ceia, R.; Laborda, H.; Quintanilla, L. G.; Heleno, R. 2009. Fern feeding ecology of the Azores Bullfinch Pyrrhula murina: the selection of fern species and the influence of nutritional composition in fern choice. Ardeola 56(1): 71-84. Ceia, R.; Heleno, R.; Ramos, J. A. 2009. Summer abundance and ecological distribution of passerines in native and exotic forests in São Miguel, Azores. Ardeola 56(1): 25-39. Collar, N. J.; Gonzaga, L. P.; Krabbe, N.; Madroño Nieto, A.; Naranjo, L. G.; Parker, T. A.; Wege, D. C. 1992. Threatened birds of the Americas: the ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, U.K. Juniper, T.; Parr, M. 1998. Parrots: a guide to the parrots of the world. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Krabbe, N. 1998. Das Gelbohrsittich-Projekt (Ognorhynchus icterotis) in Ecuador. Mitteilungen Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten- und Populationsschutz 14: 18-20. Krabbe, N.; Sornoza M., F. 1994. Avifaunistic results of a subtropical camp in the Cordillera del Condor, southeastern Ecuador. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 114: 55-61. López-Lanús, B.; Salaman, P.; Krabbe, N. 1998. Report on the preliminary results of "Proyecto Ognorhynchus" for the conservation of the Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchus icterotis in Colombia. Papageienkunde 2: 197-200. Salaman, P. 2001. The Yellow-eared parrot: good news and an unexpected danger. Cyanopsitta 61: 18-19. Salaman, P. G. W.; López-Lanús, B.; Krabbe, N. 1999. Critically endangered: Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchus icterotis in Colombia. Cotinga 11: 39-41. Salaman, P.; López-Lanús, B.; Krabbe, N. 1999. Proyecto Ognorhynchus: the conservation and study of Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchus icterotis in Colombia. Snyder, N.; McGowan, P.; Gilardi, J.; Grajal, A. 2000. Parrots: status survey and conservation action plan 2000-2004. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. Waugh, D. 2004. Recovery begins for Yellow-eared Parrot: international effort and innovative science boost threatened species. Winging it 16(7): 4.

American Bird Conservancy. 2008. Huge boost for Endangered Yellow-eared Parrot. Available at: #http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/stories/081219.html#.

Arosa, M. L.; Ramos, J. A.; Valkenburg, T.; Ceia, R.; Laborda, H.; Quintanilla, L. G.; Heleno, R. 2009. Fern feeding ecology of the Azores Bullfinch Pyrrhula murina: the selection of fern species and the influence of nutritional composition in fern choice. Ardeola 56(1): 71-84.

Ceia, R.; Heleno, R.; Ramos, J. A. 2009. Summer abundance and ecological distribution of passerines in native and exotic forests in São Miguel, Azores. Ardeola 56(1): 25-39.

Collar, N. J.; Gonzaga, L. P.; Krabbe, N.; Madroño Nieto, A.; Naranjo, L. G.; Parker, T. A.; Wege, D. C. 1992. Threatened birds of the Americas: the ICBP/IUCN Red Data Book. International Council for Bird Preservation, Cambridge, U.K.

Juniper, T.; Parr, M. 1998. Parrots: a guide to the parrots of the world. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK.

Krabbe, N. 1998. Das Gelbohrsittich-Projekt (Ognorhynchus icterotis) in Ecuador. Mitteilungen Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten- und Populationsschutz 14: 18-20.

Krabbe, N.; Sornoza M., F. 1994. Avifaunistic results of a subtropical camp in the Cordillera del Condor, southeastern Ecuador. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 114: 55-61.

López-Lanús, B.; Salaman, P.; Krabbe, N. 1998. Report on the preliminary results of "Proyecto Ognorhynchus" for the conservation of the Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchus icterotis in Colombia. Papageienkunde 2: 197-200.

Salaman, P. 2001. The Yellow-eared parrot: good news and an unexpected danger. Cyanopsitta 61: 18-19.

Salaman, P. G. W.; López-Lanús, B.; Krabbe, N. 1999. Critically endangered: Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchus icterotis in Colombia. Cotinga 11: 39-41.

Salaman, P.; López-Lanús, B.; Krabbe, N. 1999. Proyecto Ognorhynchus: the conservation and study of Yellow-eared Parrot Ognorhynchus icterotis in Colombia.

Snyder, N.; McGowan, P.; Gilardi, J.; Grajal, A. 2000. Parrots: status survey and conservation action plan 2000-2004. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.

Waugh, D. 2004. Recovery begins for Yellow-eared Parrot: international effort and innovative science boost threatened species. Winging it 16(7): 4.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2010. Ognorhynchus icterotis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2012.
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