Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is moderate to large, and is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified. It is generally described as rare and uncommon, being patchily distributed and occurring at low density (Stotz et al. 1996, Collar and Boesman 2020). It can however be locally common to fairly common, e.g. in large forest fragments in the Itajaí Valley (G. Kohler in litt. 2011, Collar and Boesman 2020). The population in its stronghold in Rio Grande do Sul is suspected to number 10,000 individuals (Bencke 1996), while the east slope of the Serra do Mar may hold significant numbers; however, the apparent rarity of the species suggests that these figures may be an overestimate (J. Gilardi in litt. 2010). Based on available evidence the population is tentatively placed in the band 10,000-19,999 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The species is assessed as being in decline caused by the loss, fragmentation and degradation of its habitat, trapping for the cage-bird trade and hunting for food (Collar and Boesman 2020). Tree cover within the range is lost at a rate of 5-6% over three generations (11.6 years; Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). The impact of hunting and trapping on the population size has not been quantified. Overall however, the decline is not believed to be rapid because because the species occurs in montane areas where deforestation is typically less severe, it appears to tolerate secondary growth, plantations, orchards and urban woodlands, and anecdotal observations suggest it is locally stable, for example in Tres Picos State Park, Rio de Janeiro (A. Foster in litt. 2013, Collar and Boesman 2020). Based on the available evidence, it is tentatively suspected that the population decline does not exceed 20% over three generations.
Triclaria malachitacea occurs from Espírito Santo through Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Paraná to Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul, south-eastern Brazil. Historical records cone from southern Bahia (none since 1833) and Minas Gerais. Two records from Misiones, Argentina, require confirmation.
It inhabits lower montane and escarpment forests up to 1,000 m, ranging into lowland forests outside the breeding season. Its preference is for primary or mature secondary growth forests, with a good availability of nesting sites (hollow trees) (G. Kohler in litt. 2011). In Rio Grande do Sul, it nests on flat, ridgeline terrain (possibly an artefact of lowland forest destruction) (Bencke 1998) but, in the Serra do Mar, most records are along valley watercourses. Trichilia claussenii may be an important nest-tree in Rio Grande do Sul, with Eugenia rostrifolia, Alchornea triplinervea and Cupania vernalis frequently possessing suitable natural cavities (Bencke 1998). Nesting occurs from September (October in Rio Grande do Sul) to January (Bencke 1998). It has a varied diet, including palmito palms Euterpe edulis and occasionally maize (Bencke 1996). It is susceptible to fragmentation and appears to require fragments of over 60 ha to persist (Uezu et al. 2005).
The species is mainly affected by the destruction and modification of its habitat. There has been extensive habitat loss for agricultural conversion, urbanisation and intensive palmito collecting within the species's range. Even the moister valleys in the Serra do Mar are under conversion to banana plantations on the lower slopes. In Rio Grande do Sul, cutting for fuelwood to cure tobacco is fragmenting habitat (Bencke 1996).
The species is furthermore threatened by trapping for the cage-bird trade; in particular juveniles are poached from the nests (G. Kohler in litt. 2011). During the mid-1980s, small numbers were found in international trade. There is some national trade, but the species is rarely recorded in captivity (Bencke 1996, C. Yamashita in litt. 2012). Moreover, the species is hunted for food (Collar and Boesman 2020).
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II and protected under Brazilian law. It has been recorded in several protected areas in Brazil, and most recent observations outside Rio Grande do Sul have been in reserves. In Rio Grande do Sul, clearance of native forest is prohibited, fuelwood extraction requires a licence and suitable areas for incorporation in a reserve network have been identified (Bencke 1996). Some public awareness activities are carried out.
28 cm. Medium-sized, bright green parrot. Male has broad blue belly-patch. Rounded tail. Somewhat large, horn-coloured bill. Pale, bare eye-ring. Female generally paler. Similar spp. Amazona spp. are larger with shorter tails, and female Pileated Parrot Pionopsitta pileata is smaller. Voice Unpatterned thrush-like phrases. In flight, semi-whistled sounds like parakeet.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Babarskas, M., Benstead, P., Capper, D., Foster, A., Gilardi, J., Kohler, G., Symes, A., Taylor, J. & Yamashita, C.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Blue-bellied Parrot Triclaria malachitacea. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/blue-bellied-parrot-triclaria-malachitacea on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.