Jandaya Parakeet

Overview

The jandaya parakeet, also known as the jenday conure, is a small Neotropical parrot native to northeastern Brazil. It belongs to the Aratinga solstitialis complex and is considered very closely related to, and possibly a subspecies of, the sun conure.

Identification

• Measures 30 cm in length with a long tail; the ends of the tail feathers are tinged in blue.
• Features a reddish-orange body, green wings and vent, and a yellow head, neck, and shoulders.
• Distinguished by orange cheeks, a black bill, and a whitish orbital ring.
• Produces a very loud, shrill call.

Habitat

Found in lowland deciduous woodland and palm groves across northeastern Brazil, specifically in the states of Piauí, Maranhão, Tocantins, and Ceará, as well as portions of Goiás and Pará. Although it has an extremely large range, the species is locally rare in the wild.

Diet

In the wild, the bird has a predilection for various fruits such as mango and cashew apples, as well as palm nuts. It also shows an attraction to human-cultivated plants, including rice, maize, and members of the Annonaceae family. Chocolate, caffeine, and certain chemicals found in avocados are toxic to the species.

Did you know?

Based on size, morphology, and plumage, this species is believed to be a close living relative of the extinct Carolina parakeet, potentially the closest, though molecular phylogenetics has identified the nanday parakeet as a closer relative among tested species. The specific epithet jandaya derives from the Tupi word meaning 'noisy crier'.