Black-capped Parakeet
Pyrrhura rupicola
Small dark parakeet of tall mature forest of the humid lowlands and lower slopes of the Andes. Dark green and long-tailed, with black scaling around the neck. Often travels in small, tight flocks that rocket through the canopy, calling loudly. Listen for even-pitched screeching, fairly low for a parakeet; voice similar to Rose-fronted Parakeet. Formerly known as Rock Parakeet.
Taxonomy
Swiss naturalist Johann Jakob von Tschudi described the species in 1844.<p>There are two subspecies of Pyrrhura rupicola:<p>P. r. rupicola can be found in western South America and is common in Peru. P. r. sandiae can be found in the extreme west of Brazil, south-east Peru, and northern Bolivia. Commonly called the Sandia conure in aviculture, it features narrower scalloped feathers on the neck and breast and a lack of scalloped feathers on the hindneck.<p>The black capped parakeet may breed with the green cheeked parakeet in the wild.<p>"Black-capped parakeet" has been designated the official name by the International Ornithologists' Union (IOC). It is also known in the pet trade as black-capped conure or rock conure.
- Scientific name
- Pyrrhura rupicola
- Authority
- (Tschudi, 1844)
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Genus
- Pyrrhura
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Black capped parakeets are highly social birds and communal roosters. In the wild, they flock with up to 30 birds at a time. During breeding season smaller groups of families can be found. Black capped parakeets enjoy bathing. In the wild black capped parakeets are canopy feeders. The black capped parakeet lives up to 30 years in captivity.<p>Black capped parakeets reach sexual maturity between 1 and 3 years old. They roost in small groups during breeding season. A clutch generally has 4 to 7 eggs. They have a 24-day incubation period, followed by 7 to 8 weeks of parental care. Black capped parakeets have a breeding season from February to March.<p>Wild black capped parakeets eat a variety of fruits, nuts, berries, and vegetation. They may also raid farmers crops.<p>Black capped parakeets are listed as near-threatened in the wild on Appendix II. The primary cause of their habitat loss is the deforestation of the Amazon Basin. It is estimated that between there will be a 13.7% and 15.5% loss of habitable land over 18 years. A decrease in forest buffers alongside streams, amnesty for land owners guilty of illegal deforestation before 2008, and a reduction in the amount of private land that must be kept as forest contribute to this problem.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black-headed Antbird
Percnostola rufifrons
Medium-sized, stocky bird of forest understory. Shows substantial geographic variation in plumage, but males are always black and dark gray, females rufous and gray-brown. Both sexes show thin wingbars: white in males, rufous-buff in females. Eastern populations (Guianas and NE Brazil) have striking red eyes; those of more western subspecies are gray. Found in tall rainforest and in lower-stature forests on sandy soils, usually in pairs or small groups that often follow army ants but are just as likely to be seen away from them, searching deliberately for insects in low vegetation. Not especially shy but often assesses observers warily from dense cover, pumping tail and giving low churring calls similar to other antbirds. Song is a series of clear, whistled notes on one pitch, with some geographic variation in pace; most common call is a sharp bark, similar to call of Black-faced Antthrush. In dim forest light, male may be confused with Spot-winged Antbird; Black-headed is best distinguished by wing bars (not spots), stockier profile, and vocalizations.
Kafa White-eye
Zosterops kaffensis
A small, sharp-billed warbler-like bird. Note the yellow throat and broad white spectacles around the eyes. The birds in the southwestern Ethiopian part of the range have yellow underparts, while in northern Kenya, the underparts are gray. Found in montane forest, scrub, cultivated areas, and lush gardens, usually in hyperactive flocks. Similar to Abyssinian White-eye, but shows a broader eye-ring. Most common call is a high-pitched rising rattle. The song is a subdued, chatty sequence of “chew” notes.
White-chested Emerald
Chrysuronia brevirostris
Small hummingbird with short, black bill and completely white underparts; found in savannas, dry forests, and disturbed habitats. Hovers at flowers like other hummingbirds. Males sing a hard, rattling trill from exposed perches beneath forest canopy. Most similar to Plain-bellied and Versicolored Emeralds, but has shorter, entirely black bill; where these species occur together, White-chested may not be safely separable from them if not seen well.
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