LC
Golden-capped Parakeet Aratinga auricapillus



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.
SACC. 2005 and updates. A classification of the bird species of South America. Available at: https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm.

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

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2022 Least Concern
2016 Near Threatened C2a(i)
2012 Near Threatened C2a(i)
2011 Near Threatened C2a(i)
2008 Near Threatened C1; C2a(i)
2004 Near Threatened
2000 Vulnerable
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency medium
Land-mass type continent
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 1,370,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown - - -
Population trend decreasing poor suspected 2016-2031
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-19% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-19% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-19% - - -
Generation length 4.89 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 2-100 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: The species was described as common in the 19th century, but has likely suffered over the past 200 years from the loss of habitat and collecting for the pet trade (Collar et al. 2020). Despite these threats, it is still locally common in Goiás, (where it occurs over most of its former distribution), Minas Gerais and Bahia. It is described as very common along the rio Grande basin (V. T. Lombardi in litt. 2011). A recent survey in Bahia found it in 18 out of 30 sites surveyed, including eight protected areas, being recorded in large groups and using secondary vegetation (Cordeiro 2002). The population size has not been quantified, but the species is observed frequently in forests and open habitats within the large range, and there is no evidence to suggest that the population numbers below 10,000 mature individuals (P. A. Silva, B. Phalan, R. Subirá and D. M. Lima in litt. 2022, see also eBird 2021, WikiAves 2021).

Trend justification: The species's population is suspected to be in decline owing to continued habitat loss and some trapping for the pet trade. Tree cover within the range is lost at a rate of 13% over three generations (14.7 years; Global Forest Watch 2021, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). However, as the species is not strictly dependent on forests but is also found in secondary growth and open agricultural areas (Collar et al. 2020), forest loss alone is unlikely to drive rapid population declines. It has been hypothesised that the species may even benefit from the planting of non-native fruit trees, which it uses for both food and reproduction (Silva and Melo 2013, P. A. Silva in litt. 2022). The impact of trapping has not been quantified. Overall, given that the species remains common or very common in large parts of the range, the population decline is not thought to exceed 20% over three generations.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Brazil extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Brazil Serra do Teimoso
Brazil Vitória da Conquista

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Pastureland suitable resident
Artificial/Terrestrial Plantations suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland suitable resident
Savanna Dry suitable resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 1400 m Occasional altitudinal limits (max) 2180 m

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Agro-industry farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Agriculture & aquaculture Livestock farming & ranching - Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Species mortality

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Food - human subsistence, national
Pets/display animals, horticulture subsistence, national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Golden-capped Parakeet Aratinga auricapillus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/golden-capped-parakeet-aratinga-auricapillus 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.