Amazona oratrix

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 oratrix

Species Authority:

Ridgway, 1887

Common Name/s:

English	–	Yellow-headed Amazon, Yellow-headed Parrot
Spanish	–	Loro Cabeciamarillo

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A2bcd+4bcd ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Butchart, S. & Taylor, J.

Contributor/s:

Eisermann, K., Enkerlin-Hoeflich, E., Howell, S., Marín Togo, M., Miller, B., Monterrubio-Rico, T. & Téllez García, L.

Justification:
This species qualifies as Endangered owing to a very rapid population decline. The population is now so small that lower (but still very significant) rates of decline are likely in the future.

History:

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

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Amazona oratrix has undergone a dramatic population decline, judged at 90% since the mid-1970s, to 7,000 birds in 1994. There are three subpopulations in Mexico: the race magna in Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, Chiapas, Tabasco and Campeche; the nominate race from Jalisco to Oaxaca⁷; and the race tresmariae on the Islas Marías. The race belizensis was widespread in coastal Belize, but is now primarily restricted to central and north-west areas¹, mostly in pine-oak forests along the coastal plains¹³. There is an old report and a 1993 record from Petén, Guatemala¹, and "guatemalensis" occurs from Punta Manabique to extreme north-west Honduras⁴. There are conflicting reports that tresmariae is stable³ and under considerable threat⁵. On the coast of Michoacán, Mexico, it has been calculated that the species occupies 45.6% of its estimated historic distribution¹⁰. Based on intensive field surveys during 2001-2007, it was verified that the species's range has contracted in Colima state, and it has been extirpated in 11 municipalities in coastal Guerrero state (from Tecpan de Galeana to Marquelia)¹¹. The combined range decline for Colima, Michoacan and Guerrero is estimated at 3,990 km^{2 11}. The population at Punta de Manabique declined by 30% from 1994 to 2001 primarily because of nest poaching¹².
Countries:	Native: Belize; Guatemala; Mexico
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	The population was estimated at 7,000 individuals in 1994 (Lousada and Howell 1996).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It inhabits dense thorn-forest, savanna, tall deciduous forest and humid riverine woodland, occasionally up to 500 m. Birds favour semi-arid regions in the northern Atlantic lowlands, but more humid savannas further south. In Belize, it inhabits pine savannas and adjacent evergreen forest patches, and "guatemalensis" occurs in coastal scrub, palm savanna and mangroves^4,12. Food privation and fire cause occasional wanderings. It nests in tree-cavities and in snags of Roystonea palms¹², with breeding occurring in February-June. Along the Michoacan Pacific coast in Mexico, the species nests in Astronium graveolens, Brosimum allicastrum and at least five other tree species¹¹. Nesting success is only 0.5 fledglings per nest². It feeds on fruit from wild and cultivated trees.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It inhabits dense thorn-forest, savanna, tall deciduous forest and humid riverine woodland, occasionally up to 500 m. Birds favour semi-arid regions in the northern Atlantic lowlands, but more humid savannas further south. In Belize, it inhabits pine savannas and adjacent evergreen forest patches, and "guatemalensis" occurs in coastal scrub, palm savanna and mangroves^4,12. Food privation and fire cause occasional wanderings. It nests in tree-cavities and in snags of Roystonea palms¹², with breeding occurring in February-June. Along the Michoacan Pacific coast in Mexico, the species nests in Astronium graveolens, Brosimum allicastrum and at least five other tree species¹¹. Nesting success is only 0.5 fledglings per nest². It feeds on fruit from wild and cultivated trees.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Habitat loss has been extensive, with 80% of the Tamaulipas lowlands cleared for agriculture and pasture, and increasing settlement along the Western Highway in Belize⁸. In Belize, where much of the suitable habitat lies outside the national protected area system, the regions occupied by the species remain under heavy development pressure¹³. Palm savannas at the only known breeding site in Guatemala are used for non-intensive cattle-grazing¹². Many thousands of individuals of this species are illegally exported from Mexico and some from Belize each year, and it is popular in domestic markets^5,6,8. Illegal domestic traffic is intense in Mexico and may account for 38% of the species's recent distributional loss¹¹. In the Mexican states of Michoacan, Guerrero and Oaxaca, it is mainly nestlings that are taken for the pet trade¹¹. In Guatemala, it is reported that local military authorities are complicit in the illegal trade of this species, and nest poachers are reported to frequent the species's nesting site¹². In addition, hunting for food by local fishermen has been reported from Guatemala¹². In Belize, it is hunted and persecuted for damaging crops³ and is still a victim of the illicit pet trade, capture for which involves the cutting down of nesting trees¹³. Its range around coastal Michoacán is estimated to have declined by 1,507 km², of which 576 km² can not be attributed to habitat loss and thus may be due to poaching for trade¹⁰.

Major Threat(s):

Habitat loss has been extensive, with 80% of the Tamaulipas lowlands cleared for agriculture and pasture, and increasing settlement along the Western Highway in Belize⁸. In Belize, where much of the suitable habitat lies outside the national protected area system, the regions occupied by the species remain under heavy development pressure¹³. Palm savannas at the only known breeding site in Guatemala are used for non-intensive cattle-grazing¹². Many thousands of individuals of this species are illegally exported from Mexico and some from Belize each year, and it is popular in domestic markets^5,6,8. Illegal domestic traffic is intense in Mexico and may account for 38% of the species's recent distributional loss¹¹. In the Mexican states of Michoacan, Guerrero and Oaxaca, it is mainly nestlings that are taken for the pet trade¹¹. In Guatemala, it is reported that local military authorities are complicit in the illegal trade of this species, and nest poachers are reported to frequent the species's nesting site¹². In addition, hunting for food by local fishermen has been reported from Guatemala¹². In Belize, it is hunted and persecuted for damaging crops³ and is still a victim of the illicit pet trade, capture for which involves the cutting down of nesting trees¹³. Its range around coastal Michoacán is estimated to have declined by 1,507 km², of which 576 km² can not be attributed to habitat loss and thus may be due to poaching for trade¹⁰.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway CITES Appendix I. In Mexico it occurs in nine protected areas¹¹. The race magna occurs in El Cielo, Los Tuxtlas, Pantanos de Centla and Laguna de Terminos Biosphere Reserves. The race tresmarieae is protected in the Islas Marias Biosphere Reserve. The race oratrix occurs in Chamela-Cuixmala Reserve, on the Lagunas de Chacahua, Huatulco National Park, and on the recently created Zicuiran-Infiernillo Biosphere Reserve in Michoacan¹¹, as well as seven protected areas in Belize^2,6,9. The only breeding population known in Guatemala was declared a wildlife refuge in 2005, but effective protection is difficult due to organised crime in the area¹². There are several country-wide awareness campaigns in Mexico⁷. It is bred in captivity, but the reintroduction of captive-bred birds is unfeasible⁵. Conservation Actions Proposed Carry out surveys to obtain an up-to-date estimate of the population size. Monitor rates of habitat loss and degradation. Monitor levels of hunting, capture and trade. Enforce trade restrictions. Effectively protect key sites such as Las Colorados Ranch, Soto La Marina/La Pesca, (Tamaulipas), río Naranjo, centred on Las Abritas (San Luis Potosí) and Punta de Manabique. Survey to identify additional important sites. Research habitat use and local movements. Continue to expand awareness campaigns.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I. In Mexico it occurs in nine protected areas¹¹. The race magna occurs in El Cielo, Los Tuxtlas, Pantanos de Centla and Laguna de Terminos Biosphere Reserves. The race tresmarieae is protected in the Islas Marias Biosphere Reserve. The race oratrix occurs in Chamela-Cuixmala Reserve, on the Lagunas de Chacahua, Huatulco National Park, and on the recently created Zicuiran-Infiernillo Biosphere Reserve in Michoacan¹¹, as well as seven protected areas in Belize^2,6,9. The only breeding population known in Guatemala was declared a wildlife refuge in 2005, but effective protection is difficult due to organised crime in the area¹². There are several country-wide awareness campaigns in Mexico⁷. It is bred in captivity, but the reintroduction of captive-bred birds is unfeasible⁵.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out surveys to obtain an up-to-date estimate of the population size. Monitor rates of habitat loss and degradation. Monitor levels of hunting, capture and trade. Enforce trade restrictions. Effectively protect key sites such as Las Colorados Ranch, Soto La Marina/La Pesca, (Tamaulipas), río Naranjo, centred on Las Abritas (San Luis Potosí) and Punta de Manabique. Survey to identify additional important sites. Research habitat use and local movements. Continue to expand awareness campaigns.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Amazona oratrix. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 04 February 2012.
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