Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a small population and is restricted to a moderately small range. Habitat loss is however low within the range, particularly in the highlands, and the species is not facing substantial threats. It is therefore listed as Near Threatened.
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.
Touit costaricensis occurs on the Caribbean slope and locally on upper Pacific slopes of Costa Rica and west Panama (Ridgely and Gwynne 1989; Stiles and Skutch 1989). It is known from middle to high elevations in the Guanacaste, Tilarán, Central Volcanic and Talamanca Mountain ranges in Costa Rica and south to Santa Clara, above Boquete, Cocoplum, Isla Popa and from both slopes in the Fortuna area, Panama (Ridgely and Gwynne 1989; Stiles and Skutch 1989; G. R. Angehr in litt. 1998; eBird 2021). There are few records from south-eastern lowlands in Costa Rica or Panama, but it occurs continuously along the Cordillera de Talamanca, mainly on the Caribbean slope (Stiles and Skutch 1989). In Panama, there are outlying records from El Copé, Coclé (Ridgely and Gwynne 1989; eBird 2021). It is evidently uncommon and local, but perhaps somewhat overlooked (Collar and Boesman 2020).
The species inhabits cool, wet montane forests (Collar and Boesman 2020). It is occasionally found in patchy secondary growth, and feeds on fruits from trees and epiphytes, including melastomes, ericads such as Cavendishia, and Clusia (Stiles and Skutch 1989).
The species is an altitudinal migrant (J. Criado in litt. 2007; Collar and Boesman 2020). Outside the breeding season it is also recorded in highlands up to 3,000 m (Stiles and Skutch 1989). It may occasionally occur in lowland humid forest at 200-500 m and rarely at sea-level especially in south-eastern Costa Rica (Stiles and Skutch 1989). It probably breeds in the dry season in very wet montane forest at elevations of 700-1500 m (J. Sánchez in litt. 2007).
Habitat loss and fragmentation in the species's range is low (J. Criado in litt. 2007; Global Forest Watch 2021). Destruction of foothill and highland forests is primarily the result of burning, small-scale logging operations and other conversion for agricultural use, including plantations of pineapple, sugarcane and coffee (Dinerstein et al. 1995; G. R. Angehr in litt. 2007; J. Sánchez in litt. 2007; C. Sánchez in litt. 2021). In Panama, deforestation is also taking place for urban and tourism development in highlands (G. R. Angehr in litt. 2007). Virtually all remaining highland forest in Costa Rica is confined to existing protected areas (Stiles and Skutch 1989). Forest clearance is higher in the lowlands and mid-elevation (Global Forest Watch 2021; C. Sánchez in litt. 2021); even though the species does not depend on these forests, logging may impact it in the wet season (F. G. Stiles in litt. 1999; J. Criado in litt. 2007).
Climate change effects might cause a contraction and/or shift of the distribution range (Sekercioglu et al. 2012). There are no reports of captive birds; consequently any pressure from trade must be extremely low at most (Collar 1997; Collar and Boesman 2020).
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II. It occurs in several protected areas, notably Braulio Carrillo, Tapantí-Cerro de la Muerte National Parks and Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, Costa Rica, and La Amistad International Park and adjacent reserves in both countries. However, legal protection of Palo Seco Protection Forest (a large reserve in Panama adjacent to La Amistad) has not prevented clearance for agriculture (Angehr and Jordán 1998).
17.5 cm. Bright green parrot with bright red forehead to mid-crown, lores and area below eye. Bronze tinge to nape. Yellowish throat. Red leading edge of wing and wing-coverts. Dusky flight feathers edged green. Paler green below. Green, square tail edged yellow on outer rectrices and narrow black apical band. Red restricted in female. Voice Harsh and high-pitched tuiiit calls.
Text account compilers
Hermes, C.
Contributors
Angehr, G., Benstead, P., Biamonte, E., Capper, D., Criado, J., Garrigues, R., Sandoval, L., Sharpe, C.J., Stiles, F.G., Stuart, T., Sánchez, C., Sánchez, J., Taylor, J., Westrip, J.R.S. & Zook, J.
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 27/11/2024.
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 27/11/2024.