Search | Tips
Home
About BirdLife
Our Vision
Global Overview
BirdLife Partnership
Regional Work
Africa
Americas
Caribbean
Asia
Europe
Middle East
Pacific
Antarctica
News
Features
Press Releases
Subscribe
News Archive Search
Action
Action Index
Campaigns
Conservation Science
Action on the Ground
Advocating Change
BirdLife & Business
Developing Capacity
Building Awareness
Publications
World Birdwatch
Books
BCI
Help BirdLife
Donate
Fundraise
Give a Legacy
Join BirdLife
Support a Campaign
Surf the Web
Data Zone
Search Species
Search Sites
Search EBAs
State of Birds
BirdLife Species Champions appeal Donate to this groundbreaking initiative so that together we can turn the tide on bird extinctions.
Home > Data Zone >
Justification This species has a small range within which trade and habitat loss and possibly introduced mammalian predators are likely to be causing declines. This combination qualifies it as Vulnerable.
Family/Sub-family Psittacidae
Species name author (Gmelin, 1788)
Taxonomic source(s) SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)
Identification 33 cm. Overall green parrot with white forehead and lores. Yellow crown and ear-coverts around bare white orbital patch. Yellow chin. Bluish tinge on lower cheeks and around chin. Yellow shoulders and thighs. Red speculum. Dark blue tips to flight feathers. Voice Noisy and raucous, including dry rattling screeet and trilling scree-ee-ee-ak.
Population estimate
Population trend
Range estimate (breeding/resident)
Country endemic?
2,500-9,999
decreasing
11,000 km2
No
Range & population Amazona barbadensis has a disjunct range in northern coastal Venezuela (Falcón, Lara, Anzoátegui and Sucre) and the islands of Margarita, La Blanquilla and Bonaire (this last in the Netherlands Antilles). It is now extinct on Aruba (to Netherlands). Although never proven to naturally occur on Curaçao, an 18th century historical source reports the former presence of a wild parrot population6. The mainland population seems low, while numbers on the islands (1,900 on Margarita and 80-100 on Blanquilla in 19965, 650 on Bonaire in 20079) appear to fluctuate, but have increased on Margarita from 750 birds in 19894. In 1992, 12 captive-reared birds were reintroduced to Margarita, with some success4.
Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.
Ecology: It inhabits xerophytic vegetation, frequenting desert shrublands dominated by cacti and low thorn-bushes or trees. Nesting takes place in cavities in trees, cacti or cliffs, generally from March to September but varies depending on weather conditions1. It tends to roost communally in tall trees, with groups of up to 700 birds recorded2.
Threats It is widely exploited for trade, which serves a strong internal pet market (many chicks taken in Bonaire are believed to end up in Curaçao9). Tourist and associated developments are destroying habitat, especially on Margarita, where the principal breeding, roosting and feeding-sites are threatened by unregulated mining for construction materials1,5. In some areas, it is hunted for allegedly damaging crops3,5. On Bonaire, natural vegetation has been heavily degraded for charcoal production, and through intensive grazing by goats, drastically reducing natural food species diversity and availability6. Introduced mammalian predators and the destruction of nest sites resulting from poaching activity also appear to limit its reproductive potential on Bonaire9.
Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II, but legal protection in Venezuela is not enforced7. It occurs in Morrocoy, Cerro El Copey, Laguna de la Restinga and Washington-Slagbaai National Parks. In 2006 and 2007 reforestation of the Washington-Slagbaai park began by successful reintroduction of rare native drought resistant berry and fruit bearing tree species. In 2007 the fence to exclude goats from a large section of the park was restored and in 2008 goat removal will commence to foster natural woodland recovery6. There is a conservation and awareness-raising campaign on Margarita and La Blanquilla5. The reintroduction programme on Margarita was preceded by five years of environmental education, public awareness and ecological studies4. On Bonaire, awareness campaigns began in 1998-1999 and are ongoing, in combination with ecological research activity. An amnesty of captive birds took place in 2002, with all declared birds identified using a numbered ring on the leg to aid in future anti-poaching law enforcement9. Supplemental feeding has also been carried out during extreme droughts6. On Margarita artificial nests were introduced but suffered higher rates of poaching. The repair of natural nesting cavities has proved more successful8. Genetic studies are being carried out to resolve the taxonomic status of subpopulations9.
Conservation measures proposed Survey to determine distribution and status throughout range. Monitor key populations. Regulate captive populations and reduce poaching incentives6. Deploy anti-poaching measures in known breeding areas6. Restore habitat on Bonaire6.
References Collar et al. (1992). 1. Collar (1997a). 2. Juniper and Parr (1998). 3. Rodríguez and Rojas-Suárez (1995). 4. Sanz and Grajal (1998). 5. Snyder et al. (2000). 6. A. O. Debrot in litt. (1999, 2007). 7. C. J. Sharpe, J. P. Rodríguez and F. Rojas-Suárez in litt. (1999). 8. Sanz et al. (2003). 9. R. Martin and S. Williams in litt. (2007).
Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Rob P. Clay (Guyra Paraguay), Isabel Isherwood (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International), David Wege (BirdLife International)
Contributors Jean-Paul Rodríguez (Centro de Ecología - IVIC), Franklin Rojas-Suárez (Conservation International), Chris J. Sharpe
IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)
Recommended citation BirdLife International (2008) Species factsheet: Amazona barbadensis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 2/1/2009
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, and BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums
In this Section
Search for Species
Species Information
Terms & Definitions
Taxonomy
References A-L
References M-Z
See Also
African grey seeing red
Campaign for palms and parrots
Festive boost for Georgetown
5-year plan to get St Vincent Parrot off Red List
Philatelic praise for Pacific's parrots and
What's New (2008)
Species facts & figures
Global Species Programme
The BirdLife checklist of the birds of the world with conservation status and taxonomic sources. Version 1 [.zip, 1.5mb]
Related Sites
Lynx Edicions
Threatened Birds of the World - Buy online
Threatened bird ofthe day: Jan 2, 2009 Tahiti Monarch Pomarea nigra
Printer friendly view
Subscribe to News
Bookmark & Share
Contact Us | Feedback | Jobs | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions
© 2008 BirdLife International. Working together for birds and people.