Olive-throated Parakeet

Overview

The olive-throated parakeet (Eupsittula nana), also known as the olive-throated conure, is a small parrot species within the family Psittacidae. It is distributed across two widely disjunct populations: one in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, and another spanning from Mexico to Costa Rica.

Identification

• Length ranges from 21.5 to 26 cm with a weight between 72 and 85 g, with the sexes appearing alike.
• Plumage is mainly dark green on the head and upperparts, featuring an olive-brown throat and breast that becomes olive on the belly.
• A distinctive feature is the bare white skin surrounding the eye, contrasting with the yellowish ear coverts and rump.
• The bill is browish horn-coloured with a paler tip, the iris is yellow to orange, and the legs are blackish gray.

Habitat

The principal habitat is deciduous woodlands, but the species also occupies the interior and edges of humid forest, riparian areas, scrublands, and open landscapes such as plantations and gardens. It reaches elevations up to 1,500 m in Jamaica, 1,100 m in Honduras, 1,000 m in Mexico, and 700 m in Costa Rica.

Diet

A major component of the diet consists of fig fruits, alongside other fruits, leaves, and flowers. In Jamaica, the bird acts as a crop pest, feeding on maize, corn, and cultivated fruits, while mainland flocks may include Finsch's parakeet.

Did you know?

The species is listed in CITES Appendix II, and the Jamaican population faces threats from habitat loss and coastal development despite being common and widespread on the island.