White-breasted Parakeet

Overview

The white-breasted parakeet, also known as the white-necked parakeet, is a Vulnerable species of bird in the family Psittacidae. It is a small to medium-sized parrot found primarily on the eastern slopes of the Andes in southern Ecuador, with hypothetical records in northern Peru.

Identification

• Length of 24 to 25.5 cm with a weight of 83 to 110 g, exhibiting a monomorphic plumage between sexes.
• Distinguishing features include a wide white neck collar, yellow breast, and green underparts with a rusty belly tone, while the wings feature red primary coverts and dark bluish primaries.
• The bill is blackish and the face has green cheeks with a scaly yellow appearance, orange ear coverts, and a thin reddish brown band above the bill in adults.
• Vocalisations consist of a common call described as a series of harsh notes such as "krree krree krree," with flocks in flight producing noisy, harsh chattering.

Habitat

This species inhabits the canopy, clearings, and edges of primary subtropical and tropical forest on the eastern Andean slope in southeastern Ecuador, at elevations between 900 and 2,000 m, though it is usually found below 1,700 m. Its range is limited to the Morona-Santiago and Zamora-Chinchipe provinces, with undocumented sightings in the Cajamarca region of Peru.

Diet

The white-breasted parakeet feeds on the fruit, seeds, and flowers of a variety of plants and trees.

Did you know?

The species is the subject of conservation efforts by the Fundación Jocotoco, which has erected nest boxes in the Tapichalaca Reserve to support its small and declining population.