Amazona viridigenalis

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:

Amazona viridigenalis

Species Authority:

(Cassin, 1853)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Green-cheeked Amazon, Red-crowned Amazon, Red-crowned Parrot
Spanish	–	Amapola, Amazona Tamaulipeca, Loro Cabeza Roja, Loro Famaulipeco

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A2bcd+3bcd+4bcd ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Taylor, J.

Contributor/s:

Brush, T., Enkerlin-Hoeflich, E. & Navarro, A.

Justification:
The combination of high levels of exploitation for the cagebird trade, long-term habitat loss and reduced density estimates indicates that this species is declining very rapidly. It consequently qualifies as Endangered.

History:

2004	–	Endangered
2000	–	Endangered
1996	–	Endangered
1994	–	Endangered

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Amazona viridigenalis is locally and seasonally fairly common to common on the Atlantic slope of north-east Mexico⁵, mostly in Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosí, with small colonies in extreme north-east Querétaro⁶. It formerly occurred in Nuevo León and Veracruz, but there have been no records of wild birds since 1945 and 1960 respectively. In 1992-1994, densities in one area were estimated at 5.7 birds/km², indicating a wild population of 3,000-6,500 birds^2,4. This compares with 25.2 birds/km² reported in the 1970s¹. The population recently established in urban areas of the Lower Rio Grande Valley (Texas), USA, is considered by some to consist of wild birds⁹. Introduced or feral populations are also established (and mostly increasing) in Florida and California (USA), Puerto Rico (to USA), O'ahu (Hawaii) and several parts of Mexico³.
Countries:	Native: Mexico Introduced: Puerto Rico; United States
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	In 1992-1994, estimated densities in one area in Mexico indicated a wild population of 3,000-6,500 birds (E. C. Enkerlin-Hoeflich in litt. 1994; Enkerlin-Hoeflich 1995)
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits lush areas in arid lowlands and foothills, especially gallery forest, deciduous woodland and dry, open pine-oak woodland on ridges up to 1,000 m. Smaller numbers occur in agricultural landscapes with a few large trees. Nests are usually in tree-cavities, with breeding from March-May. Clutches of 2-5 eggs are incubated for 25-31 days³. It is nomadic in winter, with large flocks moving south (and apparently north) and to higher elevations. It feeds largely on the fruits of dominant tree species³.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It inhabits lush areas in arid lowlands and foothills, especially gallery forest, deciduous woodland and dry, open pine-oak woodland on ridges up to 1,000 m. Smaller numbers occur in agricultural landscapes with a few large trees. Nests are usually in tree-cavities, with breeding from March-May. Clutches of 2-5 eggs are incubated for 25-31 days³. It is nomadic in winter, with large flocks moving south (and apparently north) and to higher elevations. It feeds largely on the fruits of dominant tree species³.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	In 1970-1982, 16,490 birds (mostly nestlings) were legally imported into the USA. Illegal exports from Mexico and a pre-export mortality of >50% equates to 5,000 birds per year³. Trappers damage nests when extracting chicks (sometimes felling entire trees), reducing nest-site availability and leading to permanent site abandonment⁷. Many gallery forests have been cleared or degraded, with over 80% of Tamaulipas lowlands cleared for agriculture (especially sorghum) and pasture. Habitat is now patchily distributed on cattle-ranches, where trapping pressure is greatest³.

Major Threat(s):

In 1970-1982, 16,490 birds (mostly nestlings) were legally imported into the USA. Illegal exports from Mexico and a pre-export mortality of >50% equates to 5,000 birds per year³. Trappers damage nests when extracting chicks (sometimes felling entire trees), reducing nest-site availability and leading to permanent site abandonment⁷. Many gallery forests have been cleared or degraded, with over 80% of Tamaulipas lowlands cleared for agriculture (especially sorghum) and pasture. Habitat is now patchily distributed on cattle-ranches, where trapping pressure is greatest³.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix I (1992). It occurs in El Cielo and Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserves^6,9, but there are only small colonies in Sierra Gorda and its status in El Cielo is unknown^6,8. Ranchers are increasingly aware of the benefits of maintaining large trees, but this is not reflected in practice. Conservation Actions Proposed Conduct surveys to obtain an estimate for the total population size. Monitor populations to determine the extent of declines. Identify the most important nesting aggregations for protection³. Integrate ranchers into efforts to curtail trapping and regenerate habitat³.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I (1992). It occurs in El Cielo and Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserves^6,9, but there are only small colonies in Sierra Gorda and its status in El Cielo is unknown^6,8. Ranchers are increasingly aware of the benefits of maintaining large trees, but this is not reflected in practice.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Conduct surveys to obtain an estimate for the total population size. Monitor populations to determine the extent of declines. Identify the most important nesting aggregations for protection³. Integrate ranchers into efforts to curtail trapping and regenerate habitat³.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Amazona viridigenalis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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