Amazona finschi

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 finschi

Species Authority:

(Sclater, 1864)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Lilac-crowned Amazon, Lilac-crowned Parrot
Spanish	–	Amazona Guayabera, Cotorra Frente Roja, Loro Corona-violeta

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable A2cd+3cd+4cd;C1 ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Taylor, J.

Contributor/s:

Renton, K. & Salinas, A.

Justification:
This species has a small population which is declining rapidly owing to exploitation and habitat loss. Consequently it qualifies as Vulnerable.

History:

2006	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Least Concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Amazona finschi is endemic to the Pacific coast of Mexico^1,2,3. Historically, its range extended from southern Sonora and southwest Chihuahua to Oaxaca^1,4. The species has been practically extirpated from Oaxaca, as well as parts of Nayarit, Jalisco, Durango, Colima and Michoacán, and has undergone significant population declines in many areas of its original range, especially in the lowlands⁵⁵. Despite local declines the species is most abundant in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán and Sinaloa⁵. A recent survey, carried out in appropriate habitat in 53 out of 77 50x50 km squares covering the species's entire range, estimated its population size to be 7,000-10,000 individuals⁵. The species has disappeared from 37% of the localities where it was historically recorded^5,11, and has shown a decline of 29% in its original distribution over the last 20 years¹⁴.
Countries:	Native: Mexico
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	Renton and Elias (2003) estimate the global population at 7,000-10,000 individuals, based on surveys covering the majority of the species's global range.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It is reported to occur in deciduous and semi-deciduous forests along the coast, as well as pine-oak forests up to 2,000 m¹. However, semi-deciduous forest along more humid valleys at 600-1000 m is optimal breeding habitat^5,6, and provides key food resources during the dry season⁷. A low toleration to human perturbation is evident as the species is encountered more frequently in protected than in degraded woodland⁵. Seasonality plays an important role in the species's life history as it may trigger altitudinal and latitudinal migrations⁸and affect daily activity. The species shows a low rate of reproduction¹³.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It is reported to occur in deciduous and semi-deciduous forests along the coast, as well as pine-oak forests up to 2,000 m¹. However, semi-deciduous forest along more humid valleys at 600-1000 m is optimal breeding habitat^5,6, and provides key food resources during the dry season⁷. A low toleration to human perturbation is evident as the species is encountered more frequently in protected than in degraded woodland⁵. Seasonality plays an important role in the species's life history as it may trigger altitudinal and latitudinal migrations⁸and affect daily activity. The species shows a low rate of reproduction¹³.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Capture for domestic and international trade is the major threat to wild populations. Illegal trade is intensive and widespread, and Amazona finschi is one of the most frequently confiscated Mexican parrots¹¹. During 1981-2001, 4,061 individuals were traded internationally, of which 79% were exported directly from Mexico and 64% were taken from the wild¹⁰. Adults and juveniles are easily netted in large numbers because of their habit of congregating at communal roost sites late in the afternoon^11,13. Chicks are commonly poached from nests¹¹. During interviews with local people throughout the species's range, 75% reported poaching in their area¹¹. Habitat loss and degradation, mostly for conversion to both small-holder and large-scale cultivation and pasture^15,16, is also a serious threat, with semi-deciduous forest along the Pacific coast being lost at a greater rate than any other forest type in Mexico^11,12, resulting in the destruction of nest sites and reduction in the extent of this crucial breeding habitat¹³. Large development projects, such as dams, have also resulted in loss of breeding habitat for the species¹⁶. Semi-deciduous forest now covers only 5,106 km² within the species's range^5,11. Decreases in rainfall that could result from global climate change would result in declines in the reproductive potential of wild populations in tropical dry forests¹⁶.

Major Threat(s):

Capture for domestic and international trade is the major threat to wild populations. Illegal trade is intensive and widespread, and Amazona finschi is one of the most frequently confiscated Mexican parrots¹¹. During 1981-2001, 4,061 individuals were traded internationally, of which 79% were exported directly from Mexico and 64% were taken from the wild¹⁰. Adults and juveniles are easily netted in large numbers because of their habit of congregating at communal roost sites late in the afternoon^11,13. Chicks are commonly poached from nests¹¹. During interviews with local people throughout the species's range, 75% reported poaching in their area¹¹. Habitat loss and degradation, mostly for conversion to both small-holder and large-scale cultivation and pasture^15,16, is also a serious threat, with semi-deciduous forest along the Pacific coast being lost at a greater rate than any other forest type in Mexico^11,12, resulting in the destruction of nest sites and reduction in the extent of this crucial breeding habitat¹³. Large development projects, such as dams, have also resulted in loss of breeding habitat for the species¹⁶. Semi-deciduous forest now covers only 5,106 km² within the species's range^5,11. Decreases in rainfall that could result from global climate change would result in declines in the reproductive potential of wild populations in tropical dry forests¹⁶.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway In 1999, the Mexican government established a Plan for the Conservation, Protection and Recuperation of Psittacines in Mexico, within which A. finschi is considered a priority species⁹. In 2004, the species was upgraded to CITES Appendix 1, and in 2007, a proposal was approved for the species to be upgraded in 2008 from 'Threatened' to 'Endangered' under Mexican wildlife law¹⁶. In Mexico, considerable efforts have been made to tackle illegal national trade, with at least 52 seizures during 1997-2003¹⁴. Inspections in Mexico resulted in the seizure of 266 live individuals of the species being offered illegally in the pet trade from 1995 to 2003¹⁴. The species is found in three Biosphere Reserves; Sierra de Alamos-Arroyo Cuchujaqui, southern Sonora, and Chamela-Cuixmala and Sierra de Manantlán, Jalisco, and is reported to occur in seven Important Bird Areas, however some of these lack official protection or conservation programmes¹⁰. Conservation Actions Proposed Monitor population trends through regular surveys. Monitor levels of habitat destruction and degradation. Implement trade regulation strategies in the 1999 plan. Conduct outreach work and environmental education as outlined in the 1999 plan. Carry out habitat conservation and the recovery of wild populations as recommended in the 1999 Plan. Monitor the success of strategies from the 1999 plan.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
In 1999, the Mexican government established a Plan for the Conservation, Protection and Recuperation of Psittacines in Mexico, within which A. finschi is considered a priority species⁹. In 2004, the species was upgraded to CITES Appendix 1, and in 2007, a proposal was approved for the species to be upgraded in 2008 from 'Threatened' to 'Endangered' under Mexican wildlife law¹⁶. In Mexico, considerable efforts have been made to tackle illegal national trade, with at least 52 seizures during 1997-2003¹⁴. Inspections in Mexico resulted in the seizure of 266 live individuals of the species being offered illegally in the pet trade from 1995 to 2003¹⁴. The species is found in three Biosphere Reserves; Sierra de Alamos-Arroyo Cuchujaqui, southern Sonora, and Chamela-Cuixmala and Sierra de Manantlán, Jalisco, and is reported to occur in seven Important Bird Areas, however some of these lack official protection or conservation programmes¹⁰.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Monitor population trends through regular surveys. Monitor levels of habitat destruction and degradation. Implement trade regulation strategies in the 1999 plan. Conduct outreach work and environmental education as outlined in the 1999 plan. Carry out habitat conservation and the recovery of wild populations as recommended in the 1999 Plan. Monitor the success of strategies from the 1999 plan.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Amazona finschi. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2012.
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