Yellow-naped Amazon

(Amazona auropalliata)

Project Status: Active | 2007 - current

Collaborators/Funders

New Mexico State University, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, the Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), Santa Rosa Park, University of British Columbia - Okanagan, Louisiana State University, Mesoamerican Parrot Census Network

Yellow-naped Amazon in serious danger

With wild populations in decline in its entire range, the Yellow-naped Amazon (Amazona auropalliata) is at risk of extinction.

Progress and outcomes: The WPT has supported:

Field studies in ecology and habitat use
Population and new roost surveys
Educational programmes and events
Monitoring and protecting nests

Beginning in early 2007, WPT provided a Small Action Programme grant for a research project to learn about range and habitat use of the Yellow-naped Amazon in Costa Rica. In addition, in response to heavy trapping New Mexico State University researchers partnered with WPT, the Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) and Santa Rosa Park in funding an educational program. In 2015, WPT supported surveying and protecting a group on an island off the coast of Honduras, and surveys a year later in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, as well as anti-trade and education efforts in the Biosphere Reserve La Encrucijada in Mexico. Counts found that there are less than 1700 individuals on the west (Pacific) coast of the species' range from S Nicaragua to N Costa Rica, a marked decline from counts in 2005. A thorough survey carried out through Mexico, Guatemala, and the Bay Islands from 2018-2019 counted 679 birds which, combined with the previous data, resulted in a total of 2361 Yellow-naped Amazons across the species’ entire range. In 2021 further detailed counts along the Pacific coast found about 220 more. In 2021 the species was uplisted to Critically Endangered by IUCN. Funzel sv, with support from the WPT, is continuing its research on the Yellow-naped Amazon in El Salvador on Isla Tasajera. The WPT also supports the rehabilitation and release of parrots caught in trade.

Focus of future work: WPT continues its support for efforts taking place in Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Costa Rica. In Costa Rica, there are plans to implement monitoring of birds there and continue counts often, to track the effectiveness of release programs. WPT will also support the confiscation of illegally held captive birds which will be rehabilitated and released if possible. Any birds that are injured or unable to be released will be held back for a breeding program. A release program and community awareness will be developed in select locations in the former range of these birds, building support for the intrinsic value of these parrots.

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IUCN/CITES Status: Critically Endangered / Appendix I

World population: About 2600

Where found: A.a. auropalliata: Pacific slope from Oaxaca, Mexico to NW Costa Rica
A.a. parvipes: Mosquitia of Honduras and NE Nicaragua
A.a. caribaea: Bay Islands, Honduras

History: The total population of the Yellow-naped Amazon is under 2400 individuals. An overall decline in numbers has occurred throughout the species’ range due to trapping for the wild bird trade and the loss and degradation of its habitat. Interviews with local people in at least one area provide anecdotal evidence that the species has lost ground or disappeared entirely since the 1950s and 1960s (R. Bjork in litt. 2011) (Grijalva 2008). The populations in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras are also declining (T. Wright in litt. 2011, Lezama et al. 2004, Wiedenfeld 1993). In Nicaragua some sites that had previously held large numbers may now hold very few (M. Lezama per C. Dahlin and T. Wright in litt. 2016). Formal surveys at 6 sites in Costa Rica have noted a decline of 48.9% between 2005 and 2016 (C. Dahlin and T. Wright in litt. 2016). Climate change may also have an impact on the species as there have been hotter and longer dry seasons, though the impact of this is currently unknown (C. Dahlin and T. Wright in litt. 2016).

Threats:

On-going habitat destruction and degradation due to the expansion of agriculture
Heavy capture for local and international trade
Nest cavity invasion by Africanized bees resulting in loss of young
Gulf of Fonseca mangrove forests being cleared for aquaculture and extraction of firewood and timber

Ecology: The Yellow-naped Amazon favours deciduous forest, pine-oak woodland, gallery forest along waterways, arid to semi-arid savanna woodland, and dry scrubland with remnant woodlots or scattered trees. Birds are found in pairs or flocks with larger gatherings at communal roosts and feed areas. They feed on seeds of Cochlospermum, Curatella, figs and ripening Terminalia fruits. Bay Island birds feed on pine cones.