Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence under 20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (under 10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be over 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (over 30% decline over ten years or three generations). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
The global population size has not been quantified, but this species is described as 'fairly common' (Stotz et al. 1996). The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and unsustainable levels of exploitation.
Trend justification
The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing habitat destruction and unsustainable levels of exploitation.
The species has been heavily traded: since 1981, when it was listed on CITES Appendix II, 93,234 wild-caught individuals have been recorded in international trade (UNEP-WCMC CITES Trade Database, January 2005).
Conservation Actions Underway
The species is listed under CITES Appendix II.
Text account compilers
Rutherford, C.A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Scaly-headed Parrot Pionus maximiliani. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/scaly-headed-parrot-pionus-maximiliani on 25/12/2024.
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 25/12/2024.