Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Habitat destruction through logging, clearing for agricultural use, frequent burning, intense grazing and, locally, potato cultivation, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Food
Fruit, blossoms and seeds.
Voice
Flight call is a loud, high-pitched metallic screech. When perched a softer metallic 'rreek'.
Rusty-faced Parrot (Hapalopsittaca amazonina) [XC117779]
by Ross Gallardy from Reserva Hidrogr\u00e1fica, Forestal, y Parque Ecol\u00f3gico R\u00edo Blanco, El Desquite - La Navarra, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia (song)
Rusty-faced Parrot (Hapalopsittaca amazonina) [XC27439]
by Bernabe Lopez-Lanus from Antioquia: P\u00e1ramo de Frontino, Colombia (flight call)
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Indigo-winged Parrot (Hapalopsittaca fuertesi) and Red-faced Parrot (Hapalopsittaca pyrrhops), and all have commonly been considered conspecific.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
velezi Graves, GR & Restrepo, 1989 - Central Andes of Colombia.
amazonina (Des Murs, 1845) - Eastern Andes of Colombia.
theresae (Hellmayr, 1915) - Extreme eastern Colombia and north-western Venezuela.
Similar Species
From Indigo-winged Parrot (Hapalopsittaca fuertesi) by more extensive red on head, yellow streaking on sides of head and contrasting golden-olive hindneck. Several sympatric Pionus are slightly larger with proportionately shorter tails and different flight action.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet