Dusky-billed Parrotlet

Overview

The dusky-billed parrotlet, also known as Sclater's parrotlet, is a small species of parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is classified as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, with a population that is believed to be stable.

Identification

• Calls consist of high-pitched notes or soft wheezing sounds, produced while in flight or perched.
• The bird is very social and conspicuous, typically forming flocks of up to 100 birds outside the breeding season.

Habitat

Found in the Amazon rainforest in South America, the Andes, the Amazonian foothills, the Amazon River outlet, and Marajo Island. It prefers lowland tropical rainforest edges, clearings, riparian zones, secondary habitats, and savanna, favouring seasonally-flooding forests. The species does not occur at altitudes higher than 1,000 metres above sea level.

Diet

The diet consists of approximately 10% seeds, buds, and blossoms, and 90% berries and fruits, with grass occasionally eaten as well. These parrotlets have also been observed eating clay as a primary source of minerals.

Did you know?

Unlike many members of the genus Forpus, dusky-billed parrotlets are not captured for the parrot trade and are relatively unaffected by deforestation.