Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species occurs in a small range, in which habitat is lost due to deforestation. The population size is small and declining. Therefore, the species qualifies as Vulnerable.
Population justification
The population size of the species has not been directly estimated. A population estimate can be derived based on density estimates of a congener, the Santa Marta Parakeet Pyrrhura viridicata. This species was found at densities of c.4-7 individuals per km2. Assuming that Upper Magdalena Parakeet occurs at a similar density and that 20% of the range are occupied, the population numbers c.11,840-20,720 individuals. This approximately equates to 8,000-14,000 mature individuals.
Trend justification
The population trend of Upper Magdalena Parakeet has not been directly estimated. However, the species’s high dependence on cloud forests makes it vulnerable to deforestation, which is ongoing in its restricted range (Donegan et al. 2016, Collar et al. 2019). Tree cover loss between 2001 and 2018 within the range of Upper Magdalena Parakeet amounted to 530 km2 (Global Forest Watch 2019). Even though there is no information on the intensity of trapping, it is unlikely that the population decline caused by habitat loss and trapping combined exceeds 20% over three generations.
Pyrrhura chapmani occurs in the Upper Magdalena Valley on the eastern slope of the Central Andes in the departments of Tolima and Huila, Colombia (Donegan et al. 2016, Collar et al. 2019). It is known from a small number of localities including the La Riviera and Los Yalcones reserves (Calderón 2005, Bradley 2015, Donegan et al. 2016).
This species occurs throughout the cloud forest of the Upper Magdalena Valley, at an elevation of 1,600 - 2,800 m (Collar et al. 2019). The species feeds largely on fruits and occasionally tree bark and seeds, and is generally recorded in flocks of 6-12 individuals (Collar et al. 2019).
This species has been strongly threatened by trade in the past, but this pressure has declined significantly since the late 1980s. The species is CITES II listed and trade is now minimal throughout its range; however, it remains susceptible to hunting and trapping (Collar et al. 2019). Pyrrhura chapmani is also threatened by significant deforestation throughout its range (Donegan et al. 2016). Tree cover loss between 2001 and 2018 within the range of Upper Magdalena Parakeet amounted to 530 km2 (Global Forest Watch 2019).
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix II.
Conservation Actions Proposed
Assess the population size. Monitor the population trend. Investigate the extent and impact of deforestation, habitat destruction, hunting and trapping on the population size. Protect the remaining habitat.
Generally green, frontal band dark reddish brown; crown and nape brown, bare orbital ring white; throat, sides of neck, hindneck and breast dark green edged buffy whitish, giving scaled effect. Primary-coverts red, tipped yellowish orange; outer primaries blue, with narrow green fringe on outer web. Tail, deep maroon above, green at base, dusky greyish below. Red belly patch. Immature similar to adult, but has less red on primary-coverts. P. m. souancei more stongly scaled throat, all-red primary coverts, sometimes red on carpals, brownish-red belly and blacker undertail. P. m. berlepschi still stronger throat scaling, carpal and belly markings invariably present (Collar et al. 2019).
Text account compilers
Everest, J., Ekstrom, J., Symes, A., Taylor, J., Butchart, S.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Upper Magdalena Parakeet Pyrrhura chapmani. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/upper-magdalena-parakeet-pyrrhura-chapmani on 28/11/2024.
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 28/11/2024.