NT
Red-fronted Parrotlet Touit costaricensis



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
2021 Near Threatened C2a(ii)
2018 Vulnerable C2a(ii)
2016 Vulnerable B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)
2012 Vulnerable B1ab(i,ii,iii,v)
2008 Vulnerable B1a+b(i,ii,iii,v)
2004 Vulnerable
2000 Vulnerable
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Near Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status altitudinal migrant Forest dependency high
Land-mass type continent
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 36,000 km2 medium
Extent of Occurrence (non-breeding) 22,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? yes -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 3000-12000 mature individuals medium estimated 2007
Population trend decreasing poor suspected 2016-2027
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 4 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: The breeding population in the Important Bird Areas (IBAs) of Costa Rica is estimated at 1,000-4,000 mature individuals (J. Criado in litt. 2007; J. Sánchez in litt. 2007). These IBAs cover roughly 1/3 of the total breeding and resident range. Assuming that the species occurs at similar densities throughout its range, the total population is estimated at 3,000-12,000 mature individuals. This equates to 4,500-18,000 individuals in total.
Due to its altitudinal migration, dispersal abilities and apparent tolerance of some habitat degradation (Collar and Boesman 2020), the species is here assumed to form one single subpopulation.

Trend justification: The species's population is suspected to be declining, as its forest habitat in parts of its range is cleared. Overall, forest loss has been low in recent years; over the past three generations (12 years; Bird et al. 2020) the species has lost 2% of tree cover within its total range (Global Forest Watch 2021). Forest clearance has been more pronounced in lowland and mid-elevation parts of the range than in the highlands (Global Forest Watch 2021; C. Sánchez in litt. 2021).
The species appears to be able to tolerate some degree of habitat disturbance (Collar and Boesman 2020) and hence, population declines caused by habitat loss and degradation are likely to be very low. The rate of decline is therefore placed in the band 1-9% over three generations.


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

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Costa Rica Arenal-Monteverde
Costa Rica Central Volcanic Cordillera
Costa Rica La Amistad Caribe
Costa Rica Los Santos, La Amistad Pacífico
Costa Rica Talamanca Highlands
Panama Fortuna Forest Reserve
Panama General de División Omar Torrijos Herrera National Park
Panama La Amistad International Park
Panama Palo Seco Protection Forest
Panama Santa Clara
Panama Volcán Barú National Park

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland suitable non-breeding
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane major resident
Altitude 500 - 3000 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

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%) Causing/Could cause fluctuations Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Slow, Significant Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Climate change & severe weather Habitat shifting & alteration Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem degradation
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Trend Unknown/Unrecorded Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Causing/Could cause fluctuations Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Residential & commercial development Housing & urban areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Causing/Could cause fluctuations Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Residential & commercial development Tourism & recreation areas Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture international

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Red-fronted Parrotlet Touit costaricensis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/red-fronted-parrotlet-touit-costaricensis on 06/12/2024.
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 06/12/2024.