Dusky-headed Parakeet

Overview

The dusky-headed parakeet (Aratinga weddellii) is a small green Neotropical parrot characterised by a dusty grey head. It inhabits the western Amazon basin of South America and is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Generally green plumage with a distinct grey-brown head.
• Blue-tipped tail and remiges that are dark grey from below but mainly blue from above.
• Black bill and a broad, bare, white (sometimes yellow-tinged) eye-ring.
• Typical length of 25–28 cm and weight around 100 grams, making it slightly smaller than the sun conure.

Habitat

Found in wooded habitats across the western Amazon basin, ranging from southeastern Colombia through eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, and southwest Amazonian Brazil to central Bolivia. It prefers semi-open environments such as várzea, forest edges, and forest remnants, though it can also be found in coffee plantations.

Diet

Consumes fruit, seeds, and flowers, while also searching decaying wood for insect larvae. The species supplements its diet by ingesting mineral-rich soil, such as from clay licks, which helps neutralise toxins.

Did you know?

A colony of these parrots has recently been sighted in the coastal districts of Lima, Peru, where they likely settled after being released as pets.