Maroon-bellied Parakeet

Overview

The maroon-bellied parakeet (Pyrrhura frontalis) is a small parrot native to southeastern Brazil, extending to northeastern Argentina, eastern Paraguay, and Uruguay. Commonly known as the reddish-bellied parakeet or brown-eared conure, it is listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Body length ranges from 25 to 28 cm, with plumage primarily green and a distinct maroon patch on the belly.
• Features a 'scaly' yellow-green-barred breast, a whitish ear-patch often tinged brown, and a maroon undertail.
• Possesses a dark maroon frontlet that separates it from similar species, and a black beak.

Habitat

This species is common in woodland and forest edges, occupying highlands up to 1,400 m in the northern part of its range and lowlands up to 1,000 m elsewhere. It tolerates disturbance well and can be found in urban parks and gardens in cities such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

Diet

Primarily feeds on fruits, flowers, and similar plant matter. They rarely participate in mixed-species feeding flocks and are known to forage in gardens.

Did you know?

Maroon-bellied parakeets can learn to talk, although not clearly, and are considered among the quietest conures despite possessing shrill voices that may still irritate some people.