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
The slender-billed parakeet moves from the upper elevations to lower ones in the austral winter months of May through September.<p>The slender-billed parakeet's year-round diet includes seeds of grass and thistle, buds, and berries. In autumn the seeds of Araucaria are a major component; it appears that its unusual bill is adapted to feed on them. Seeds of Nothofagus are also important at other times of the year. It is a serious agricultural pest on Chiloé Island.<p>The slender-billed parakeet breeds between November and February. It usually nests in tree cavities and is known to add twigs to raise a deep cavities's floor. Often several pairs will nest in the same tree. It also occasionally uses rock crevices and has been recorded making a twig nest in bamboo. At least one nest held 10 eggs but they were suspected of being laid by two females; another nest held five eggs. The incubation period is about 26 to 28 days and fledging occurs about 42 to 45 days after hatch.<p>The slender-billed parakeet's most common call is "a nasal grating note, typically repeated in long series, e.g. “grrreh-grrreh-grrreh...”." It also makes "higher-pitched slightly more melodious screeches, “kreeh!” or “kerreh!”."
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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