Rose-crowned Parakeet

Overview

The Pyrrhura rhodocephala, also known as the rose-headed parakeet, is a small parrot species endemic to the Andes of north-western Venezuela. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with a stable population trend despite a limited range.

Identification

• A small green parrot, 24 cm long, with a bright red cap and a red tail.
• Distinguished by white primary coverts (blue in juveniles) and blue flight feathers.
• White bare skin surrounds the eye, and both sexes are identical in appearance.
• The voice is described as harsh and reedy, though quieter than other Pyrrhura conures.

Habitat

Found exclusively in the Cordillera de Mérida in the Andes of north-western Venezuela, from Táchira to Trujillo. It inhabits subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, heavily degraded former forest, farmland with scattered trees, and forest edges at elevations of 800 m to 3,100 m, typically between 1,500 and 2,500 m.

Diet

Nothing is definitively known about the species' diet, though it is suspected to consume berries, seeds, fruits, and flowers.

Did you know?

This bird is gregarious, forming noisy flocks of 10 to 30 individuals when not breeding, and gathers in even larger numbers to roost.