Fuertes's Parrot

Overview

Fuertes's parrot (Hapalopsittaca fuertesi), also known as the indigo-winged parrot, is an Endangered species endemic to Colombia. It belongs to the family Psittacidae and is monotypic within its current taxonomic classification.

Identification

• Measures 23 to 24 cm in length and weighs approximately 124 g.
• Features an olive-yellow forecrown and face, a blue crown, and a thin red band above the horn-coloured bill.
• Displays green upperparts with pale fringes, while the median and greater wing coverts are dark violet-blue and the underwing coverts are crimson.
• Produces a nasal, grating flight call described as a "krraa" when in flight or perched.

Habitat

The species is restricted to the west slope of Colombia's Central Andes, specifically in the departments of Quindío and Risaralda. It inhabits wet temperate cloudforest characterised by many epiphytes and oaks, typically between elevations of 2,900 and 3,150 m, though records range from 2,160 m to 3,500 m.

Diet

Fuertes's parrot feeds on fruit, with a particular preference for Antidaphne viscoidea. It typically forages in flocks of up to about 15 individuals.

Did you know?

The species was undetected for a decade between 1992 and 2002, leading to its status as possibly extinct, before being "rediscovered" and subsequently protected by the establishment of natural reserves.