Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a wide range that spans most of continental South-East Asia and parts of the Indian Subcontinent. While its population is suspected of still being relatively large, trapping for the cagebird trade is ongoing at a scale thought to be driving moderately rapid declines: this is especially true in Indochina, where populations in Lao PDR and Viet Nam have declined very rapidly over the past three decades. In some range states (particularly India and Thailand) populations may be stable or declining only slowly. Habitat loss and degradation may be an additive threat to this species especially in South-East Asia where the species has a strong affinity to lowland deciduous dipterocarp forest. Evaluating its global status, the species is assessed as Near Threatened due to rates of population reduction suspected to approach the threatened thresholds. The impacts of trapping must be monitored closely, especially alongside evidence of population declines in range states where the species is currently considered comparatively secure.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but the overall abundance appears to be much reduced across its range in recent decades (Collar and Kirwan 2017). In Lao PDR and Viet Nam, now very scarce (Timmins et al. in press., eBird 2023), but in India, Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia it remains locally common (Goes 2013, Thin Thin Khaing and Khin Myint Mar 2019, eBird 2023).
Trend justification
Declining globally due to unsustainable levels of exploitation for the pet trade and, to a lesser extent, habitat modifications. Combined these have driven range contractions (especially in Indochina) and a general reduction in local abundance (almost everywhere). Trends are discussed briefly for each range state, broadly from west to east.
In India, Nepal and Bangladesh, probably more secure than in other range states (with a large percentage of birds now in protected areas), although some localised trapping does occur, including in protected areas (e.g. Gubbi and Linkie 2012), and it is possible that even here numbers are declining. In Myanmar, almost certainly declining. Birds are widely captured for the pet trade (e.g., between December 2018 and April 2019, 1,744 individuals were reported for sale from a single site in Magway: Thin Thin Khaing [2019]) and at some sites numbers are probably (perhaps greatly) depleted, although at others it remains common (Thin Thin Khaing and Khin Myint Mar 2019, eBird 2023). In Thailand, remains common at numerous localities (eBird 2023) and numbers here are likely stable or perhaps declining only very slowly in response to trapping, which even here is considered a localised threat (Sanguansombat 2005). However, it appears to have declined from southernmost Thailand (the southern limit of its global range), where it was formerly known (Robson 2002, eBird 2023).
In Cambodia, remains locally common and widespread (Goes 2013, eBird 2023) with little evidence of a rapid decline in the past three generations and its status providing 'little cause for concern' (Goes 2013). Nonetheless sightings have apparently declined at some sites since the 1990s (Gray et al. 2014) and it is plausibly declining slowly. In Lao PDR, occurred historically throughout plains-level dry forests, although by the 1990s it was already local and scarce (Duckworth et al. 1999) and by 2022 had apparently declined substantially and is now very rare and local, with 'few reliable records in the 2000s' (Timmins et al. in press.). Although there are no published accounts or data, a similar, contemporaneous decline is suspected from Viet Nam, from which there are now only sporadic records (eBird 2023). In both countries, rapid declines have largely been driven by capture for the pet trade (see, e.g., Banjade et al. 2020), but the species' narrower ecological niche compared to other parakeets in Indochina perhaps also make it more vulnerable to habitat alteration (Timmins et al. in press) and the widespread loss of deciduous dipterocarp forest in both countries (Global Forest Watch 2023) has likely compounded declines (or is impeding recovery), despite this species' tolerance of forest degradation.
Evaluating trends into numeric rates of decline is very difficult, since in none of its range does robust population monitoring occur. However, over the past three generations (24 years: 1999–2023) it is plausible that global declines have exceeded 20%, owing to the collapse of populations in Indochina, offset to a considerable extent by relatively stable (or slow declining) populations elsewhere. Accordingly, over the past three generations, populations are suspected to have declined by 10–29%. The same rate of decline is suspected in the window 2005–2029, thus this species approaches thresholds for listing as threatened under Criteria A2 and A4. Rates of future decline are considerably more uncertain. An increasing percentage of the population now lies outside Indochina and is protected in effective protected areas, such that any future decline is likely to be less than that of the past. Alternatively, demand for the species in the pet trade may prove great enough to shift trapping pressures to other range states, causing similar declines in the future.
Blossom-headed Parakeet occurs in South and South-East Asia, ranging from Nepal (most recent records from Chitwan National Park: eBird 2023), east through the Himalayan foothills to north-east India and south to eastern Bangladesh, through most of Myanmar and neighbouring western Yunnan, China. It is widespread in Thailand (north of the peninsula) and Cambodia, but is highly localised in Lao PDR and Viet Nam, where now only known from sporadic records in the south of both countries. Similarly, there are no recent records from Guangxi and Guangdong provinces in southern China, despite historic occurrence there. Although the species is yet to have been entirely extirpated from any range state, the overall EOO is thought to have reduced from 3,870,000 km2 three decades ago, to only 2,670,000 km2 now. If the current threats continue, extinction in Lao PDR and Viet Nam are possible.
Given this species' use in the pet trade, it is perhaps unsurprising that this species occasionally escapes and turns up elsewhere. For example, there are several records from urban centres including Singapore and Hong Kong (eBird 2023) but it is not considered established here or anywhere else outside its native range. It is mostly sedentary, with some localised seasonal movements (presumably in response to food pressures).
This species occurs in the lowlands to c.1,500 m, inhabiting light forest, including savanna, secondary growth, forest edge, clearings and cultivated areas (Juniper and Parr 1998). It is particularly associated with dry deciduous forest throughout south-east Asia (Goes 2013, R. J. Timmins in litt. 2013); although it is occasionally observed in semi-evergreen forest, it seems to be dependent on drier habitat (Goes 2013, W. Duckworth in litt. 2016). It is able to persist in partially deforested landscapes and appears to favour forest edge near cultivation (Juniper and Parr 1998). It breeds in January-May, nesting in tree cavities and laying a clutch of usually 4-5 eggs (Juniper and Parr 1998).
Capture for the cagebird trade is the chief threat to this species throughout its range, having caused the near-extirpation of it from parts of its range (e.g. Lao PDR: Duckworth et al. 1999, Timmins et al. in press.). There are few empirical examples of the scale of this trade, although at a single site in Myanmar between December 2018 and April 2019, 1,744 individuals were reported for sale from (Thin Thin Khaing 2019). It is also obscure what percentage of the trade in this species is international, although the appearance of birds in markets in Indonesia (not a range state) (Chng et al. 2018) suggests that to some degree, birds are traded internationally. Although the species is listed in CITES Appendix II, there are very few trade records (CITES Trade Database 2023: all from Europe and likely refer to captively bred birds) suggesting that this mechanism is ineffective at monitoring trade currently. Habitat loss and degradation is considered a secondary threat. This species is very tolerant of habitat degradation and occurs, for example, in forest edge interspersed with cultivation (Juniper and Parr 1998). However, at least in South-East Asia, the species shows a strong affinity for lowland deciduous dipterocarp forests which have been subject to some of the most intensive habitat modifications in Indochina. Accordingly, habitat loss has locally likely contributed to some extent to declines; Timmins et al. (in press.) considered in Lao PDR that although habitat loss and degradation is unlikely to have been a proximate cause of population collapse, it "could perhaps limit any future recovery if hunting is controlled".
Conservations Actions Underway
The species occurs in numerous protected areas in all range states (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2023). Listed in CITES Appendix II.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Because habitat loss and degradation are considered only secondary threats for this species, the most important threat to address is that of trapping. In particular, this species should be protected in all range states and those where it is must ensure legislation is upheld. There is an urgent need to better quantify the impact of trade on wild populations. Long-term, the most successful way to address trapping is with community engagement, in particular, the need for awareness-raising activities to discourage nest-robbing and trapping. Timmins et al. (in press.) noted that in Lao PDR, habitat degradation may now or soon be at a scale that limits recovery potential; accordingly, although this species is tolerant of fragmented and degraded forest landscapes, there is undoubtedly a need to robustly protect areas of dry deciduous forest for this and other species dependent on this biome. Rates of forest loss should continue to be monitored using remote sensing data.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Contributors
Choudhury, S., Duckworth, J.W., Goes, F., Krishnan, A., Prakash, S., Round, P., Timmins, R.J. & Vyas, V.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Blossom-headed Parakeet Himalayapsitta roseata. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/blossom-headed-parakeet-himalayapsitta-roseata on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.