El Oro Parakeet

Overview

The El Oro parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi) is an endangered parrot species endemic to Ecuador. It is a monotypic species within the family Psittacidae, closely related to the maroon-tailed parakeet, and is restricted to a very limited range on the western slope of the Ecuadorian Andes.

Identification

• Measures 22 to 24 cm in length and weighs 65 to 75 g, with a dusky bill and dark iris surrounded by bare pinkish skin.
• Adults feature a mostly green head with a red forehead and lores, while upperparts and underparts are green, the latter displaying grayish buff bars that create an indistinct scaly appearance on the throat and breast.
• Wings are primarily green with red primary coverts and blue primaries, and the tail is maroon with a green base.
• Most common vocalisation is a series of grating, hoarse notes resembling 'crreeet crreeet crreeet', often produced in flight or from a perch, with flocks creating a noisy chattering effect.

Habitat

This species inhabits humid subtropical and tropical forests on the west slope of the Ecuadorian Andes in Azuay and El Oro provinces. It is found between 300 and 1,800 m in elevation, though most commonly between 600 and 1,300 m, within a fragmented range of approximately 3,800 km².

Diet

The El Oro parakeet feeds on fruit and berries, with specific food sources including figs (Ficus), Heliocarpus, Hieronyma, and Cecropia. It typically forages in flocks of up to 15 individuals, although groups as large as 60 have been observed.

Did you know?

El Oro parakeets breed cooperatively, with a breeding pair being accompanied by up to six helpers during the nesting process.