Golden-capped Parakeet

Overview

The golden-capped parakeet (Aratinga auricapillus) is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae endemic to Brazil. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List but faces threats from habitat loss.

Identification

• 30 cm long with a weight of approximately 4.9-5.25 oz.
• Mostly green plumage with a black beak and white eyerings.
• Features an orange-red belly and a red face that fades to yellow over the crown.
• Juveniles develop their yellow head markings and red lower-body colouration as they reach adulthood.

Habitat

Primarily inhabits semi-deciduous forests in northeastern Brazil, as well as subtropical or tropical dry and moist lowland forests, dry savannas, and plantations. Its range includes the states of Bahia, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Goiás, and Paraná, with reports also from Guyana and Paraguay.

Diet

Dietary behaviour is classified as frugivorous, though the birds also consume seeds, flower petals and buds, nectar, and lichens. They primarily ignore the outer layers of fruit to eat the seeds inside and have increasingly consumed cultivated exotic seeds and fruits such as citruses, papaya, mango, and maize due to anthropogenic landscape changes.

Did you know?

The golden-capped parakeet serves as a good biological indicator species due to its vulnerability, high detectability, and sensitivity to forest fragmentation.