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
Blue-gray Tanager
Thraupis episcopus
Common and widespread powder blue-gray bird of open and semi-open areas with larger trees and hedges, towns, villages, and gardens in tropical and subtropical regions. Mainly feeds at mid-upper levels in trees, eating fruit, and perches readily on phone wires. Rather plain but distinctive appearance, with beady dark eye and fairly stout bill. Populations east of the Andes in South America have broad white wing-bars and look very different.
Fasciated Tiger-Heron
Tigrisoma fasciatum
This medium-sized heron is often seen along fast-flowing rocky rivers and streams, usually at higher elevations than other tiger-herons. Almost always seen singly, standing on a rock in the middle or on the edge of a river. Adults are gray with fine black barring down the entire head, neck, and wings. Juveniles are buffy with uneven black barring. Juveniles essentially identical to juvenile Rufescent Tiger-Heron, but note different habitat.
Malabar Parakeet
Psittacula columboides
This striking parakeet is restricted to the forests of India’s Western Ghats. Bluish-gray male has a bright red upper bill and a black-and-blue collar. The greener female has an all-dark bill and a weaker black collar. Both sexes have blue in the wings and tail, though male’s is more prominent. Gives harsh, buzzy, high-pitched screeching, often as the birds shoot overhead. Favors forest and forest edge.
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