White-eyed parakeet

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White-eyed parakeet
In Piraju, Brazil
Psittacara leucophthalmus - White-eyed 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: Psittacara
Species:
P. leucophthalmus
Binomial name
Psittacara leucophthalmus
(Müller, PLS, 1776)
Synonyms[3]
  • Aratinga leucophthalmus
  • Aratinga leucophthalma

The white-eyed parakeet (Psittacara leucophthalmus), known in

Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots.[5] It is found in every mainland South American country except Chile and also on Trinidad.[6]

Taxonomy and systematics

The white-eyed parakeet was for a time placed in the genus Aratinga but from about 2013 has been in its present genus Psittacara.[7] It has these three subspecies:[5]

What is now

superspecies.[8]

The white-eyed parakeet's

specific epithet is derived from the Ancient Greek leukos "white" and ophthalmos "eye".[9]

In Brazil
queen palm
fruit

Description

The white-eyed parakeet is 32 to 35 cm (13 to 14 in) long with a 37 to 40 cm (15 to 16 in)[

nominate P. l. leucophthalmus. Subspecies P. l. nicefori has a red band on its forehead. Juveniles resemble adults, but have little or no red on the head and wings.[10][11][12]

Distribution and habitat

The nominate subspecies of the white-eyed parakeet has the widest distribution. It is found on Trindad

type specimen that was collected in central Colombia.[10]

The white-eyed parakeet inhabits a wide variety of landscapes, most of which are somewhat open. These include the edges of dense forests and nearby savannahs, secondary forests, gallery forests, várzea forests (especially in Ecuador), palm groves, mangroves, and clearings in rainforests. It is generally a bird of the lowlands, reaching 700 m (2,300 ft) in Colombia and 1,100 m (3,600 ft) in Ecuador but occurring as high as 2,500 m (8,200 ft) in Bolivia.[10][11][12][14]

Behavior

The white-eyed parakeet congregates in flocks that may number several hundred birds and include other parrot species. It roosts communally in trees and also in cane fields and caves.[10][4]

Movement

The white-eyed parakeet is non-migratory but apparently roams in response to food availability.[10]

Feeding

The white-eyed parakeet's diet is mostly fruit but also includes seeds, flowers, and small numbers of

arthropods.[10] It visits clay licks.[14]

Breeding

The white-eyed parakeet's breeding season varies widely across its very large range. It nests in cavities in trees and palms. The clutch size is three to four eggs. In captivity, the incubation period is four weeks and fledging occurs nine weeks after hatch.[10]

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

Songs and calls
Listen to white-eyed parakeet on xeno-canto

Vocalization

The white-eyed parakeet is very vocal, especially in flight with "a grating chattering interspersed with higher-pitched shrieks"[10] described as "r'teet-r'teet-tiw-"[11]. It also makes "[s]harp squeaky notes and loud harsh calls" described as "scree-ah".[10]

Status

The

IUCN has assessed the white-eyed parakeet as being of Least Concern. It has an extremely large range but its population size is not known and is believed to be decreasing. Large numbers have been exported or kept domestically in the pet trade but no immediate threats have been identified.[1] It is considered common over much of its range, though less so at the northern and southern edges of it. It occurs in some protected areas.[10]

Aviculture

Though not as popular as some of the more colorful parakeets, the white-eyed parakeet can become a sweet, loving and talkative pet.[15] They are seldom destructive and are generally not screamers, often choosing to mimic speech instead. Although many breeders ignore this species, those that do breed them appreciate their good parenting skills. Breeding requirements for white-eyed parakeets are much the same as for other parakeet species.

They will usually start to nest in March or April, sometimes breeding throughout the year and having four to six clutches.[dubious – discuss] The clutch size is usually four eggs. Chicks will sometimes start to talk by the time they are weaned and generally will talk by six months of age.

White-eyed parakeets are sometimes confused with Finsch's parakeets because both have red and yellow epaulets under their wings. The white-eyed parakeets lack the red triangle on the forehead as adults. In captivity, they can live for 25–30 years.[4]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22685682A93083034.en
    . Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  3. ^ 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. Version 30 January 2023. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved 30 January 2023
  4. ^ a b c "WHITE-EYED CONURE (Psittacara leucophthalmus)". World Parrot Trust. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  5. ^ a b Gill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P., eds. (January 2023). "Parrots, cockatoos". IOC World Bird List. v 13.1. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  6. ^ 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 30 January 2023
  7. ^ Remsen, James V.; Urantówka, Adam (2013). "Divide Aratinga into four genera". AOS South American Classification Committee. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  8. ^ Collar, N., P. F. D. Boesman, and C. J. Sharpe (2020). Crimson-fronted Parakeet (Psittacara finschi), 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.crfpar.01 retrieved 8 April 2023
  9. ISBN 0-19-910207-4
    .
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Collar, N., P. F. D. Boesman, and C. J. Sharpe (2020). White-eyed Parakeet (Psittacara leucophthalmus), 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.whepar2.01 retrieved 8 April 2023
  11. ^
    ISBN 978-0-19-530155-7
    .
  12. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8014-8721-7
    .
  13. ^ Kenefick, Martyn (22 September 2020). "Species lists of birds for South American countries and territories: Trinidad and Tobago". South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  14. ^
    ISBN 978-0-9827615-0-2
    .
  15. ^ Kalhagen, Alyson. "White-Eyed Conure (Parakeet): Bird Species Profile". The Spruce Pets. Retrieved 6 July 2021.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Psittacara leucophthalmus.


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