American Bird Conservancy (ABC), Kyle Brown Legacy, Barbara Delano Foundation
The Red-tailed Amazon (Amazona brasiliensis) has suffered a severe decrease in its wild population due to heavy trapping for the wild bird trade and destruction of nest sites. In 1999, WPT and the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) provided funding for community education highlighting the threats to the Red-tailed Amazon. The project took place at the Superagui National Park.
Status: IUCN Near Threatened / CITES Appendix I
Population: 6000-6700 mature individuals, slowly increasing.
Threats: This parrot has a restricted range. Has been heavily affected by local trapping and rapid deforestation. Sport hunting has also caused declines.
Range: The Red-tailed Amazon is found on the SE coast of Brazil, near Sao Paulo and Parana.
Natural history: The Red-tailed Amazon exists in a complex network of channels, swamps and other wet areas up to 700 m (2296 ft). Populations are now restricted to lowland forest on coastlines, and wetlands such as freshwater swamps, humid forest and mangroves. This species usually feeds on fruits and flowers in pairs or flocks of up to 20. It eats fruits and flowers; Callophyllum brasiliense is important. Roosts are in groups on small islands in channels; birds live in flooded forest.