LC
Brown-headed Parrot Poicephalus cryptoxanthus



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red list criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2019 Least Concern
2018 Least Concern
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency Medium
Land mass type Average mass 140 g
Distribution

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) 1,710,000 medium
Number of locations -
Severely Fragmented -
Population and trend
Value Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
No. of mature individuals unknown not applicable not applicable 0
Population trend Decreasing inferred -
Decline (3 years/1 generation past) - - -
Decline (5 years/1 generation past) - - -
Decline (10 years/1 generation past) - - -
Decline (10 years/3 generation future) - - -
Decline (10 years/3 generation past and future) - - -
Number of subpopulations - - -
Percentage in largest subpopulation - - -
Generation length (yrs) 10 - - -

Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is considered locally common in the East Transvaal, common in Malawi but only common in parts of Kenya (Collar and Boesman 2019).

Trend justification:

The species is tentatively assessed as being in decline due to habitat loss per Tracewski et al. (2016). Particularly in Mozambique, the species has been targeted for the cagebird trade and has been massively declining there since the 1990s (S. Taylor in litt. 2016).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Occurrence status Presence Resident Breeding Non-breeding Passage
Eswatini N Extant Yes
Kenya N Extant Yes
Malawi N Extant Yes
Mozambique N Extant Yes
South Africa N Extant Yes
Tanzania N Extant Yes
Zimbabwe N Extant Yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Kenya Arabuko-Sokoke Forest
Kenya Dakatcha Woodland
Kenya Dzombo Hill Forest
Kenya Kaya Gandini
Kenya Marenji Forest
Kenya Shimba Hills
Malawi Liwonde National Park
Malawi Lengwe National Park
Mozambique Maputo Special Reserve
Eswatini Hlane and Mlawula Game Reserves
Tanzania Mikumi National Park
Tanzania Mafia Island
Tanzania Selous Game Reserve
Tanzania Kilombero Valley
Tanzania Mnazi Bay
Tanzania Rufiji Delta
Tanzania Bagamoyo District Coastal Forests
Tanzania Kisarawe District Coastal Forests
Tanzania Rufiji District Coastal Forests
Tanzania Pande Game Reserve and Dondwe Coastal Forests
Tanzania Kilwa District Coastal Forests
Tanzania Lindi District Coastal Forests
Tanzania Mtwara District Coastal Forests
Tanzania Newala District Coastal Forests
Tanzania Handeni District Coastal Forests
Tanzania Muheza District Coastal Forests
Tanzania Pangani District Coastal Forests
Tanzania Jozani Forest
Tanzania Udzungwa Mountains
Tanzania Pemba Island
South Africa Kruger National Park and adjacent areas
South Africa Songimvelo Nature Reserve
South Africa Ndumo Game Reserve
South Africa Ithala Game Reserve
South Africa Mkuzi Game Reserve
South Africa Lake St Lucia and Mkuze Swamps
South Africa Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Zimbabwe Limpopo - Mwenezi flood-plain and pans
Zimbabwe Save - Runde junction
Tanzania Bagamoyo
Tanzania Udzungwa Mountain Range

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry major resident
Savanna Dry major resident
Altitude 0 - 1200 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Intentional use: (large scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Intentional use: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Utilisation
Purpose Primary form used Life stage used Source Scale Level Timing
Pets/display animals, horticulture - - International Non-trivial Recent

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Species factsheet: Poicephalus cryptoxanthus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/03/2023. Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2023) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 22/03/2023.