Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a very small population restricted to montane cloud forests of southern Ecuador and adjacent northern Peru. It is highly sensitive to the fragmentation and degradation of its habitat, and re-surveys of known sites suggest that the population is undergoing rapid to very rapid declines. The species is therefore assessed as Endangered.
Population justification
The species is described as uncommon and local (Collar and Boesman 2020), and population estimations are complicated by a low detectability in difficult terrain, dense forests and fog (L. M. Vallejos Bardales in litt. 2023). In 1995, field surveys found it to occur at a density of 25.3-88 individuals/km2 (Jacobs and Walker 1999). A recent re-survey however only detected densities of 3-4 individuals/km2 in an isolated, disturbed forest patch, even though it has been noted that densities may be higher in undisturbed continuous habitat (M. Sánchez-Nivicela in litt. 2023).
Within the species' extant range, a total of 2,380 km2 are covered by forested habitat (Global Forest Watch 2023). To account for its localised distribution and extreme rarity particularly in the Peruvian part of the range, it is here precautionarily assumed that only 25% of forested habitat are occupied, i.e. c.600 km2. Extrapolating from the minimum population density of 3-4 individuals/km2 detected, the global population may number 1,800-2,400 individuals. This roughly equates to 1,200-1,600 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The species is thought to decline on the basis of continued habitat destruction and fragmentation. It appears to have disappeared from several previously occupied sites (M. Sánchez-Nivicela in litt. 2023).
Surveys carried out in 1995 at Selva Alegre (Ecuador) found a population of 169 individuals at this site (Jacobs and Walker 1999). A re-survey in 2021 detected only 20 individuals (M. Sánchez-Nivicela in litt. 2023). This equates to a reduction of 62.5% over three generations (11.9 years), assuming an exponential decline. Despite a lack of data from other occupied areas it is highly plausible that this rate of decline is representative for the Ecuadorian part of the range, given comparable patterns of habitat conversion and degradation across the range (M. Sánchez-Nivicela in litt. 2023). There are no trend data from Peru; however habitat there is considered overall secure (SERFOR 2018) and thus population declines may be considerably slower. Nevertheless, given that Peru holds only a small fraction of the global range, the impact on the overall population trend may be minor. Therefore, accounting for uncertainty in the trend value, population declines are here placed in the band 40-69% over three generations.
Hapalopsittaca pyrrhops is confined to the Andes in south Ecuador (southern Chimborazo, Cañar, Azuay, El Oro, Morona-Santiago and Loja) and adjacent north-west Peru (Piura and northwest Cajamarca) (Ridgely and Greenfield 2001, SERFOR 2018, Collar and Boesman 2020). Observations in Peru are rare, and the species' occurrence in the country could even be only sporadic (N. K. Krabbe in litt. 2022, 2023; B. P. Walker in litt. 2023).
It inhabits very wet, upper montane cloud-forest and low, open forest and shrubby growth adjacent to páramo, at 2,500-3,500 m (Collar and Boesman 2020). It has been reported from fragmented and degraded forest near pasture, and there is some evidence to suggest tolerance of (if not preference for) secondary habitat (Juniper and Parr 1998). It is usually solitary, or in pairs and small groups of up to five, sometimes up to 20, individuals (Toyne and Flanagan 1997, Jacobs and Walker 1999). It nests in tree-cavities in October-January, with eggs in late November, chicks in early December, and fledglings in late January (Toyne and Flanagan 1997). Its diet includes shoots, flowers, berries and seeds (Toyne and Flanagan 1997).
The species is threatened by habitat destruction, fragmentation and degradation, largely through slash-and-burn conversion to agricultural small holdings and cattle grazing (Jacobs and Walker 1999). Parts of the range, particularly in Ecuador, are covered by mining concessions (M. Sánchez-Nivicela in litt. 2023). Its habitat in Peru is considered overall secure and not at imminent risk of deforestation, though forest loss and degradation are occurring at lower elevations (SERFOR 2018, B. Walker in litt. 2023).
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. The species occurs in several protected areas throughout its range, including Podocarpus and Sangay National Parks, Cajas National Recreation Area and Río Mazan Reserve in Ecuador (J. Freile in litt. 2012, Collar and Boesman 2020), as well as in Tabaconas-Namballe National Sanctuary in Peru (SERFOR 2018).
22 cm. Largely green, bulky parrot. Red forecrown, lores, cheeks and supercilium, yellow-streaked ear-coverts. Green underparts and upperparts, red shoulder, blue secondary coverts and dark bluish primaries. Dark blue tail. Similar spp. Allopatric with other Haplopsittaca. Several sympatric Pionus are all slightly larger, with proportionally shorter tails and, in flight, wings do not reach above plane of back. Similar structure to Pionopsitta, but not sympatric since it occupies higher elevations. Voice Harsh screeching ch-ek che-ek with second note higher, also eek eek eek. Call when perched thrut.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Benstead, P., Fjeldså, J., Freile, J., Isherwood, I., Krabbe, N., O'Neill, J., Sharpe, C.J., Stuart, T., Symes, A., Sánchez-Nivicela, M., Vallejos Bardales, L. & Walker, B.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Red-faced Parrot Hapalopsittaca pyrrhops. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/red-faced-parrot-hapalopsittaca-pyrrhops 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.