Austral parakeet

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Austral parakeet

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
CITES Appendix II (CITES)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Enicognathus
Species:
E. ferrugineus
Binomial name
Enicognathus ferrugineus
(Müller, 1776)
Synonyms

Microsittace ferruginea

The austral parakeet, austral conure, cachaña, rawilma or emerald parakeet (Enicognathus ferrugineus) is a species of bird in subfamily

Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots.[3] It is found in Argentina, Chile, and possibly the Falkland Islands.[4]

Taxonomy

The austral parakeet shares genus Enicognathus with the

nominate E. f. ferrugineus (Müller, 1776) and E. f. minor (Chapman
, 1919).

Description

The austral parakeet is 28 to 36 cm (11 to 14 in) long; a specimen of a male E. f. minor weighed 155 g (5.5 oz). The sexes are the same. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a dull reddish forehead and

primaries. Immature birds are similar but the red of the face and belly are even duller. Subspecies E. f. minor is smaller and darker than the nominate.[6]

Distribution and habitat

The austral parakeet is the southernmost of all parrots. Subspecies E. f. minor is found in southern Chile from the O'Higgins Region south to Aysén and in adjoining southwestern Argentina from Neuquén Province to northwestern Santa Cruz. The nominate subspecies is found from minor's southern limit almost to Cape Horn.[6] Undocumented sight records in the Falkland Islands lead the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society to class it as hypothetical there.[4]

The austral parakeet primarily inhabits southern beech (

Quercus) and Drimys andina. It also occurs in nearby semi-open areas, ranchlands, and occasionally in cultivated areas. It is mostly found near sea level in the far south but ranges as high as 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in the north.[6]

Behavior

Movement

The austral parakeet is a year-round resident in the southern part of its range. In the north it makes elevational movements that appear to not be strictly seasonal but more in response to weather and food availability.[6]

Feeding

The austral parakeet often forages in flocks that can have as many as 100 individuals and may include other bird species as well. Its diet includes seeds of grasses, bamboo, and the "Chilean pine" Araucaria araucana, and also fruits, berries, acorns, and leaf buds. In the northernmost part of its Argentinian range it has been observed feeding on insect larvae.[6]

Breeding

The austral parakeet's breeding season is not fully defined but includes December. It usually nests in tree cavities; those in large dead oaks seem to be favored. It has also been reported making a twig nest in bamboo. The clutch size is four to eight eggs; in captivity the incubation period is about 26 days.[6]

Dickcissel male perched on a metal pole singing, with neck stretched and beak open.

Songs and calls
Listen to austral parakeet on xeno-canto

Vocalization

The austral parakeet's most common call is "a nasal grating note, typically repeated in long series, e.g. “grrreh-grrreh-grrreh...”." It often mixes in a "more drawn-out higher-pitched “kreeh” ."[6]

Status

The

IUCN has assessed the austral parakeet as being of Least Concern. It has a large range and though its population size is not known it is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified.[1] It is considered common throughout its range and much of its habitat is protected in national parks.[6]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22685888A93091106.en
    . Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  3. ^ Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P., eds. (January 2023). "Parrots, cockatoos". IOC World Bird List. v 13.1. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  4. ^ a b Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. 30 January 2023. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved January 30, 2023
  5. JSTOR 4080306
    .
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Collar, N., E. de Juana, and P. F. D. Boesman (2020). Austral Parakeet (Enicognathus ferrugineus), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.auspar1.01 retrieved March 14, 2023

Further reading

  • Juniper & Parr: Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World; 1998,
    ISBN 0-300-07453-0

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Austral_parakeet&oldid=1220448092"