Mitred Parakeet

Overview

The mitred parakeet, also known as the mitred conure, is a species of bird in the family Psittacidae native to Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. It has established introduced populations in Uruguay and the US states of California, Florida, and Hawaii, where it is generally common and locally abundant.

Identification

• Measures 31 to 38 cm in length with a horn-coloured bill and legs not described in the text.
• Plumage is mostly green with a purplish forehead and a variable amount of red on the face, including a red forecrown and red in front of the eye.
• The eye is surrounded by bare white skin, and some individuals possess a small amount of red at the bend of the wing.
• Very vocal, producing a continuous loud screeching chatter, especially in flight, along with nasal squeaky notes and screeches.

Habitat

In its native range, it inhabits a variety of forested landscapes, including evergreen and deciduous montane forest, cloudforest, secondary forest, and semi-humid scrub areas in otherwise arid zones. Elevational ranges vary by subspecies, with P. m. chlorogenys found between 1,200 and 2,900 m, while others occur between 1,000 and 3,400 m, with one sighting at 4,000 m. Introduced populations in California and Florida mostly occur in suburban and urban areas, while those in Hawaii occur in both populated and unpopulated areas.

Diet

The diet in its native range includes berries, other fruits, seeds, nuts, and maize. In California, the species has been observed feeding on fruits and flowers, while in south Florida it has been documented feeding on 34 species of plants, both native and introduced.

Did you know?

Mitred parakeets are used as 'watch birds' in aviculture due to their loud, piercing alarm call. They are known to grow attached to groups rather than individuals, despite being devoted to their human owners.