Yellow-shouldered Amazon - BirdLife Species Factsheet

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 18^th 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 materials^1,5. In some areas, it is hunted for allegedly damaging crops^3,5. 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.

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