NT
Nicobar Parakeet Psittacula caniceps



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 Near Threatened B1ab(ii,iii)
2016 Near Threatened B1ab(ii,iii);C1
2012 Near Threatened B1ab(ii,iii);C1
2010 Near Threatened B1a+b(ii,iii); C1
2008 Near Threatened B1a+b(ii,iii); C1
2004 Near Threatened
2000 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

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

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 1,700 km2 medium
Number of locations 11-100 -
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 6000-15000 mature individuals poor suspected 2008
Population trend decreasing poor inferred 2008-2031
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 1-9% - - -
Generation length 7.5 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 2-100 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 1-89% - - -

Population justification: The species remains relatively common in some areas, but the global population is thought to be moderately small. It is estimated to number 10,000-19,999 individuals. This roughly equates to 6,667-13,333 mature individuals, rounded here to 6,000-15,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification: The population is suspected to be in decline due to trapping for the cagebird trade and loss and degradation of its habitat, but the trend has not been directly estimated. Tracewski et al. (2016) measured the forest loss within the species’s range between 2000 and 2012 as c. 35 km2. Assuming that forest loss continues at the same rate to the present day, this roughly equates to a rate of forest loss of 7.8% over the last three generations (22.5 years). The species tolerates a certain level of habitat modification, so that the conversion of forests might affect the species less severely than feared.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
India Great Nicobar, Little Nicobar

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Artificial/Terrestrial Plantations suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland major resident
Altitude 0 - 190 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Annual & perennial non-timber crops - Small-holder farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Species mortality
Climate change & severe weather Storms & flooding Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Likely to Return Majority (50-90%) Unknown Past Impact
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Geological events Earthquakes/tsunamis Timing Scope Severity Impact
Past, Unlikely to Return Majority (50-90%) Unknown Past Impact
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion, Species mortality
Residential & commercial development Tourism & recreation areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Majority (50-90%) Rapid Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture subsistence, national, international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Nicobar Parakeet Psittacula caniceps. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/nicobar-parakeet-psittacula-caniceps 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.