Scarlet-fronted Parakeet

Overview

The scarlet-fronted parakeet, also known as the scarlet-fronted conure or Wagler's conure, is a Near Threatened species of parakeet found in Colombia and Venezuela. It belongs to the family Psittacidae and is characterised by its green plumage and distinctive red frontal markings.

Identification

• Adults are generally green, with yellower underparts and some individuals possessing red speckles on the throat.
• The species features a prominent red forehead and front part of the crown, which is less extended in the transilis subspecies.
• It measures 34 to 40 cm in length and possesses a horn-coloured bill, pale gray iris, and brownish legs.
• Vocalisation includes a continuous loud screeching chatter, particularly in flight, along with squeaky notes and the call 'kreee'.

Habitat

The bird inhabits a variety of landscapes, including the edges of cloud forest, tropical deciduous forest, and gallery or secondary forest, as well as fields, orchards, and parks in built-up areas. Its range is disjunct across the Colombian Andes, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Serranía del Perijá, and western and eastern Venezuela, at elevations ranging from 350 to 2,500 m.

Diet

The parakeet usually forages in the forest canopy and consumes a diet that includes fruits, nuts, and seeds. In some regions, it is considered a crop pest.

Did you know?

This species breeds colonially, typically establishing nests in fissures within cliff faces.