International Aviculturist’s Society, Parrots in Peril, Imperial College, London
The Red-faced Parrot (Hapalopsittaca pyrrhops) has seen its population decimated by habitat loss due to slash-and-burn agriculture.
The World Parrot Trust supported Red-faced Parrot research by the Parrots in Peril team that aimed to confirm that Podocarpus National Park is a key site for the conservation of three endangered species: Red-faced Parrot, Golden-plumed Conure (Leptopsittaca branickii) and White-breasted Conure (Pyrrhura albipectus), assess the effectiveness of the park as a protected area by studying threats to its integrity (ie: gold mining) and gather basic biological information related to the conservation of the parrots.
The Parrots in Peril team learned that the range for these species, including the Red-faced Parrot, is larger than previously thought. This critical work also underlined the importance of Podocarpus National Park for other threatened species like the White-breasted Conure and the Golden-plumed Conure. The team also judged the Red-faced Parrot is likely the rarest parrot in S Ecuador.
Status: IUCN Endangered / CITES Appendix II
Population: 1800-2400 individuals, decreasing.
Threats: The species is described as uncommon and local; population estimates are complicated by a low detectability in difficult terrain, dense forests and fog. A BirdLife “restricted-range” species. Is declining rapidly due to near-total forest destruction at the elevation they live.
Range: Found on the slopes of the Andes in N Peru and S Ecuador.
Natural history: The Red-faced Parrot is found from 2400-3500 m (7872-11,480 ft). It inhabits wet upper montane forests in the temperate zone including mossy growth areas, open woodlands and shrubbery and is reported in fragmented forests with varying degrees of degradation, even tolerating secondary forest. Birds feed on fruits, berries, shoots, flowers, seeds, pods and parts of two Ericaceous trees. They are gregarious, and seen in flocks of up to 20 birds. Birds stay in one area, moving to other places in response to food availability.
