Slender-billed Parakeet

Enicognathus leptorhynchus

Fairly common, but nomadic in the Lake District region of Chile. Found in farmland with forest patches, hedges, and scattered tall trees; less of a forest bird than the smaller and duller Austral Parakeet, although the two species rarely if ever mix together. Feeds in trees and on the ground, often in noisy swarming flocks of 100s, even 1000s; tends to be wary and often flies high overhead, unlike Austral. As well as the unique long and curved bill, note the big red face patch, small red belly patch, and brighter blue wings than Austral.

Identification

The slender-billed parakeet is about 40 cm (16 in) long. The species' English name comes from its greatly elongated mandible. The sexes are the same. Adults have a red forehead and lores in an otherwise yellow-green face. Their upperparts are dull green. Their underparts are yellowish green with a reddish patch on the belly. Their tail is also reddish; their wings are mostly green with bluish green primaries. Immature birds are similar to adults but are a darker green and have whitish skin around the eye.

Taxonomy

The slender-billed parakeet has also been named Enicognathus byroni, but the current specific epithet leptorhynchus has priority. It shares its genus with the austral parakeet (E. ferrugineus) and is monotypic.

Scientific name
Enicognathus leptorhynchus
Authority
(King, PP, 1831)
Order
Psittaciformes
Family
Psittacidae
Genus
Enicognathus

Range and habitat

The slender-billed parakeet is endemic to central Chile between the Santiago Metropolitan Region and Los Lagos Region; it also occurs in the Aysén Region, but rarely, and has been recorded as a vagrant in Argentina.<p>The slender-billed parakeet primarily inhabits southern beech (Nothofagus) and Chilean pine (Araucaria araucana) forest. It also occurs in nearby semi-open areas, ranchlands, and in cultivated areas, all of them usually in winter. In elevation it ranges as high as 2,000 m (6,600 ft).

Migration
Vertical migration

Behavior

Migration pattern: Vertical migration.

Conservation

Population trend: stable.

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Yemen Serin

Yemen Serin

Crithagra menachensis

Small, slim seedeater of the southern Arabian highlands. Brown overall, with a buffy face and whitish underparts. , Note blurry pale eyebrow, fine dark streaks on the crown and upper back, and blotchy streaking on the underparts. Found in rocky montane areas, both with and without trees and shrubs. Sometimes on human structures. Usually in small groups. The song is a simple series of whistles and trills, and calls include rising “swiiit” notes, “chwee” notes, and dry rattles. Similar to Olive-rumped Serin, but has a stronger facial pattern and lacks an olive rump. Also tends to be found in more barren areas.

Gilded Flicker

Gilded Flicker

Colaptes chrysoides

Large woodpecker, very similar to Northern Flicker. Overall pale sandy brown with gray face and brown crown. Spotted below with black oval on chest. Underwing and shafts of flight feathers bright yellow. Males have red mustache stripe; sexes otherwise alike. Combination of face pattern and yellow in wings helps distinguish from both "Red-shafted" and "Yellow-shafted" Northern Flickers. Shows a strong affinity for saguaro cactus but also found in nearby woodland. Gives a piercing "kleer" call similar to Northern Flicker.

Olive-backed Foliage-gleaner

Olive-backed Foliage-gleaner

Automolus infuscatus

Dark brown foliage-gleaner of mature rainforest understory. Warm dark brown body, with a clean whitish throat patch and reddish brown tail. Does not have prominent reddish brown in the wings like many other foliage-gleaners do; the clean whitish throat, plain face (without a strong eyebrow) and habit of foraging low are other good distinguishing features to tell it apart from other foliage-gleaners. Primarily found in the understory of mature rainforest. Listen for its song, a musical trill with stuttered introductory note, “ch-trrrrrrrr”, similar to that of Chestnut-crowned Foliage-gleaner from denser secondary growth habitats, but slightly lower and with a more distinct introductory note.

Start Your Bird Watching Journey

Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.