Distribuição e tamanho populacional do papagaio-de-cara-roxa Amazona brasiliensis no estado de São Paulo

The Red-tailed Amazon Amazona brasiliensis is one of most threatened psitacid in the world. In the state of São Paulo, SE Brazil, it is restricted to a narrow coastal zone. The total population of A. brasiliensis has been estimated to be around 4,000 birds, but no detailed information is known for São Paulo. We studied the population status and mapped the distribution of A. brasiliensis in the state of São Paulo. Simultaneous censuses were carried out in three main islands (Cananéia, Ilha do Cardoso and Ilha Comprida) with A. brasiliensis populations in 2003 and 2004. We searched the parrots in an area of 1413.28 km2 and visited 69 sites. Amazona brasiliensis were recorded in 55 localities and 12 sleeping roosts. Our census estimated a population of at least 1,221 parrots in the stronghold of their distribution in the state of São Paulo. The highest number of parrots were recorded outside the main protected areas in the region (64% of the population), which may threaten the future of this population. Urban growing is the main threat for the population of São Paulo, and the creation of protected areas in Cananéia and Comprida island is critical for the future of the A. brasiliensis in the area.