Density of the Orange-fronted Parakeet ( Eupsittula canicularis ) during the dry season in a modified forest landscape, Mexico: influence of habitat structure

Population size is a criterion used in bird extinction risk assessments. Neotropical psittacines represent a significant proportion of the endangered species, but information on their population size is still limited. In this study, I assessed the density of the Orange-fronted Parakeet (Eupsittula canicularis) in primary and degraded forests of coastal Oaxaca, southeast Mexico. During the dry season from March to May 2019, I estimated the parakeet density in tropical deciduous, semi-deciduous, and secondary forests using a point count method. Furthermore, generalized additive models were used to evaluate the effect of habitat structure (tree density, tree height, main branch height, diameter at breast height, and percentage vegetation cover) on the abundance and presence/absence of parakeets. The density of parakeets was higher in semi-deciduous forest (47.7 parakeets/km2) than in secondary forest (22.3 parakeets/km2). The abundance and presence of parakeets were associated with tree density and height. The conservation of the vegetation structure and restoration of degraded areas could help to protect the Orange-fronted Parakeet in changing landscapes.