Turquoise-winged parrotlet

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Turquoise-winged parrotlet
Illustration of a turquoise-winged parrotlet (Forpus spengeli) (top) and green-rumped parrotlet (Forpus passerinus) (bottom)

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Forpus
Species:
F. spengeli
Binomial name
Forpus spengeli
(Hartlaub, 1885)
Synonyms
  • Forpus xanthopterygius spengeli

The turquoise-winged parrotlet (Forpus spengeli) is a species of parrot in the family Pscittacidae.

Description

Turquoise-winged parrotlets are typically 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long and weigh about 28 grams (0.99 oz). Their bodies are mostly yellow-green; eyes are dark brown and legs and beak are light peach. Turquoise-winged parrotlets are

zygodactyly
: two toes face forward and two toes face backward.

Distribution and habitat

Turquoise-winged parrotlets are found in northern

Rio Magdalena in Bolívar and Cesar.[2]

Turquoise-winged parrotlets are most often found in drier, open or

palm groves, semi-arid scrubland, and pastures.[2]

Conservation

There is not an estimate for the number of turquoise-winged parrotlets, but it is believed that their population is decreasing because of increased human interference and habitat destruction.[2] Turquoise-winged parrotlets are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.[1]

Behavior and ecology

Social

Turquoise-winged parrotlets are highly

gregarious
and are often found in flocks of up to 50 birds.

Reproduction

The turquoise-winged parrotlet's breeding season is May to August. Females lay 3-7 small white eggs.[2]

Diet

Turquoise-winged parrotlets mostly feed on

Trema micrantha seeds, and Ambrosia sp. and Marcgravia
sp. flowers. They are also known to occasionally feed on other plants such as grass.

Taxonomy

Until recently, the turquoise-winged parrotlet was considered a subspecies of the cobalt-rumped parrotlet as Forpus xanthopterygius spengeli. However, in 2015 Bocalini and Silveira studied morphological differences between subspecies of cobalt-rumped parrotlets and determined that the turquoise-winged parrotlet was its own species, F. spengeli.[4] This split was supported by Donegan et al. in 2016.[5] There is continuing debate over the validity of this change. Some taxonomic authorities (including the American Ornithological Society) do not recognize this change in classification.[6]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T45428679A95153318.en
    . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Turquoise-winged Parrotlet (Forpus spengeli) | Parrot Encyclopedia". www.parrots.org. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  3. ^ Wheeler, W.M.; Darlington Jr., P.J. (June 1930). "Ant-Tree Notes from Rio Frio, Colombia" (PDF). Psyche: A Journal of Entomology. 37 (2): 116 – via Antwiki.
  4. doi:10.1007/BF03544290
     – via ResearchGate.
  5. ^ Donegan, T.; Verhelst, J.C.; Ellery, T.; Cortés-Herrera, O.; Salaman, P. (October 2016). "Revision of the status of bird species occurring or reported in Colombia 2016 and assessment of BirdLife International's new parrot taxonomy". Conservación Colombiana. 24: 17–21.
  6. ^ "A classification of the bird species of South America". www.museum.lsu.edu. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
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