Blood-eared Parakeet

Overview

The blood-eared parakeet (Pyrrhura hoematotis), also known as the red-eared parakeet or red-eared conure, is a Near Threatened parrot species endemic to Venezuela. It belongs to the family Psittacidae and is notable for its restricted distribution within the country's coastal ranges and Andes.

Identification

• Approximately 25 cm in length with a weight of 64 to 74 g.
• Adults of the nominate subspecies feature slaty gray foreheads and crowns, bare white skin around the eyes, and bright terracotta ear coverts.
• Upperparts are green with yellow-edged nape feathers; underparts are green with a scaly yellow-green appearance on the throat and upper breast, plus reddish-brown on the belly.
• Common call is a series of harsh notes described as "krree krree krree", which can be given from a perch or in flight, where flocks produce a noisy, harsh chattering.

Habitat

Found exclusively in Venezuela, with the nominate subspecies in the Venezuelan Coastal Range between Aragua and Miranda, and the P. h. immarginata subspecies in the Andes of southeastern Lara state. It inhabits the interior and edges of cloudforest and secondary forest, as well as wooded savanna and clearings with scattered trees, typically at elevations between 1,000 and 2,000 m. Some individuals move into lower elevation semi-deciduous forest during the dry season.

Diet

This species forages in small flocks within the forest canopy. Its diet consists of fruits, seeds, and flowers, and may include insect larvae.

Did you know?

Nothing else is known about the breeding biology of the blood-eared parakeet, other than that it nests during the wet season centring in August.