EN
Sun Parakeet Aratinga solstitialis



Taxonomy

Taxonomic note
Aratinga solstitialis and A. maculata (del Hoyo and Collar 2014) were previously lumped as A. solstitialis following Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993) and Stotz et al. (1996).

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
- C2a(ii) C2a(i,ii)

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2022 Endangered C2a(ii)
2016 Endangered C2a(ii)
2014 Endangered C2a(ii)
2012 Not Recognised
2008 Not Recognised
2004 Not Recognised
2000 Not Recognised
1994 Not Recognised
1988 Not Recognised
Species attributes

Migratory status nomadic Forest dependency medium
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 35,400 km2 medium
Area of Occupancy (breeding/resident) 24,100 km2
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 1000-2499 mature individuals poor estimated 2021
Population trend decreasing medium inferred -
Generation length 6.55 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: The population has not been quantified across its entire range, but the species is described as very scarce (Collar et al. 2020).

In the species's stronghold in Guyana, where trapping pressure is slowly reducing, the population is apparently starting to show signs of recovery; near Karasabai c. 400 individuals were reported during transect counts (L. Joyner and O. Ottema in litt. 2020). This roughly equates to 260 mature individuals. In Brazil, the population is reported to number at most 2,500 individuals, but likely below 1,000 mature individuals (ICMBio 2018). Given ongoing trapping pressure and habitat loss particularly in the Brazilian part of the range (Global Forest Watch 2021), the population there may have declined to very low numbers. Based on the count data from Karasabai and the scarcity of records throughout the remainder of the range (Laranjeiras 2011, Collar et al. 2020, eBird 2021) the population is estimated to number 1,000-2,499 mature individuals. An accurate quantification of the population size is urgently required.

Trend justification: As a consequence of very high trapping pressure, the population declined drastically to local extinctions and is now scarce within its range. In Brazil, the rate of decline is put into the band 50-79% over the last three generations (19.6 years; ICMBio 2018). In its stronghold in Guyana, the species is however showing signs of recovery, likely following intense conservation action: anecdotal evidence and transect surveys indicate an increasing population (Collar et al. 2020, L. Joyner and O. Ottema in litt. 2020).
Nevertheless, as illegal trapping is still ongoing throughout large parts of the range it is inferred that this threat continues to cause ongoing population declines, even though the trend has not been quantified across the entire range.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Brazil extant native yes
Guyana extant native yes
Venezuela presence uncertain vagrant yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Brazil Savanas do Rio Cotingo

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland suitable resident
Forest Subtropical/Tropical Swamp suitable resident
Savanna Dry suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 1400 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Livestock farming & ranching - Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Very Rapid Declines High Impact: 8
Stresses
Species mortality
Biological resource use Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Rapid Declines Medium Impact: 6
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

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

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Sun Parakeet Aratinga solstitialis. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/sun-parakeet-aratinga-solstitialis on 22/11/2024.
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 22/11/2024.



© 2024 BirdLife International
UK charity registration number 1042125
Designed by QPQ Software Ltd