Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species is listed as Vulnerable because its population is small and declining owing to ongoing deforestation.
Population justification
The species is generally rare. The distribution range is well surveyed (see eBird 2023), and based on field reports the population is estimated with certainty to number less than 10,000 mature individuals, with less than 1,000 mature individuals in each subpopulation.
The population in Murici Ecological Station is estimated at 50-100 individuals, and at other sites mostly only small groups of up to 15 individuals are recorded (H. Vilela and A. Andrade in litt. 2020).
Trend justification
Declines are reported, likely as a consequence of habitat loss and degradation (ICMBio 2018). The species has become locally extinct in São Paulo and Ceará (ICMBio 2018, H. Vilela and A. Andrade in litt. 2020). Nevertheless, some populations, e.g. in the Pedra D'Antas Private Nature Reserve, have remained stable over the last 15 years (H. Vilela and A. Andrade in litt. 2020).
Given that trapping pressure appears negligible in this species, population declines are assumed to be predominantly caused by habitat conversion. Despite its ability to cross areas of open habitat it requires continuous forests of at least 50-100 ha in size (Pereira et al. 2014, G. Pereira per S. Dantas in litt. 2020). Tree cover within the range is lost at a rate of 6% over three generations (10.8 years; Global Forest Watch 2022, using Hansen et al. [2013] data and methods disclosed therein). This value however does not account for the additional impacts of forest degradation and fragmentation, and therefore the overall rates of habitat loss, and consequently population decline, may be larger. Tentatively, population declines are here placed in the band 10-19% over three generations.
Touit surdus occurs in north-east Brazil (Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas and Sergipe), and in the south-east from Bahia south to Rio de Janeiro. Recent surveys have found it to be one of the commonest forest parrots in the Atlantic Forest of Alagoas and in Murici Ecological Station (J. Mazar Barnett in litt. 2002, H. Vilela and A. Andrade in litt. 2020). The species was found in 16 out of 31 surveyed areas in southern Bahia, and at several sites in Pernambuco, Paraíba and Alagoas (Pereira et al. 2014).
It inhabits evergreen forest in lowlands and adjacent lower montane slopes, including mature secondary growth and plantations (Juniper and Parr 1998, Collar et al. 2020). It is often found in flocks; in Murici flocks of up to 15 individuals are observed (H. Vilela and A. Andrade in litt. 2020).
Groups have been observed moving between distant forest fragments, even crossing urban areas during dispersal (A. Whittaker in litt. 1999, G. Pereira per S. Dantas in litt. 2020). Reported foods are fruit of Spondias lutea and Rapanea schwackeana. At least in Rio de Janeiro, it may undertake seasonal movements.
Extensive deforestation throughout its range is regarded as the principal cause of its rarity, and the north-east population is most threatened because sugarcane plantations have replaced virtually all lowland forest in Alagoas (Brown and Brown 1992, Conservation International et al. 1995). Only 12% of Atlantic Forest remains in the Pernambuco Centre of Endemism. Further south in Bahia, less than 10% of forest is intact, and in the rest of its range suitable habitat has been reduced to less than 20% of its original extent (Conservation International et al. 1995). Lowland forests were historically threatened by agricultural conversion and deforestation for mining and plantations (Fearnside 1996). Current key threats arise from urbanisation and agricultural expansion (Dinerstein et al. 1995, ICMBio 2018). The species is not sought-after as a cagebird, and while there may be some trapping going on its impacts are considered negligible (Pereira et al. 2014, Collar et al. 2020).
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. It is protected under Brazilian law. It has been recorded in numerous protected areas: Pedra D'Antas and Frei Caneca private nature reserves (Pernambuco), Murici Ecological Station and Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve (Alagoas), Monte Pascoal and Serra das Lontras National Parks, Una Biological Reserve and Serra Bonita private reserve (Bahia), Córrego Grande, Sooretama and Augusto Ruschi Biological Reserves (Espírito Santo), Desengano State Park and Itatiaia National Park (Rio de Janeiro). It is included in a multi-species action plan for the conservation of Atlantic Forest birds (ICMBio 2018).
16 cm. Green forest parrotlet. Bright grass-green, brighter on undersides. Yellowish area in forefront, around face and cheeks. Scaled appearance on crown and neck. Brownish scapulars forming two bands on back. Dark primaries and primary coverts with green patch at base of primaries. Short, square tail, golden-yellow tipped black, with green central rectrices. Female similar with yellowish-green sides of tail. Similar spp. Brown-backed Parrotlet T. melanonotus has a dark brown back and bright red sides of tail. Pileated Parrot Pionopsitta pileata is large and male has red on forehead. Voice High-pitched, strident rattles
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Andrade, A., Benstead, P., Capper, D., Clay, R.P., Dantas, S., Mazar Barnett, J., Oniki, Y., Sharpe, C.J., Silveira, L.F., Symes, A., Vilela, H., Whittaker, A. & Willis, E.O.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Golden-tailed Parrotlet Touit surdus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/golden-tailed-parrotlet-touit-surdus on 23/11/2024.
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 23/11/2024.