Monk Parakeet
Myiopsitta monachus
Medium-sized parakeet, bright lime green above with whitish face and chest, pinkish bill, and blue wingtips. Native to South America, where it is found in various open habitats, especially rural agricultural areas and towns. In introduced range, can be found locally in large cities. Builds enormous stick nests, often on large structures like cell phone towers and power poles; "Cliff Parakeet" of arid southcentral Bolivia manages to build, quite impressively, on sheer cliffs. Listen for its harsh, screeching voice.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Myiopsitta monachus
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Genus
- Myiopsitta
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Orange-fronted Barbet
Capito squamatus
Chunky black and white bird with a stout bill. Ranges in lowland and foothill rainforest west of the Andes in Ecuador and far southwestern Colombia. Note orange forehead and large white spots on the lower back. Male has white underparts with streaked flanks; female has black throat and breast, and white scaling on the back. Male can be distinguished from Five-colored Barbet by white underparts, crown, and nape. Typically stays high in the canopy, where it joins mixed-species flocks of tanagers and other small birds.
Ceara Gnateater
Conopophaga cearae
Plump rufous bird with a whitish belly and long legs. Males have a narrow white tuft behind the eye that can be erected when excited. In females, this is orange-gray. Has a small range in evergreen forest and coastal forest, where it forages in the understory. The song is a series of whistled notes that gradually become louder. The call is a sharp “tcheek!”
Amethyst Sunbird
Chalcomitra amethystina
Large sunbird with a long but thin bill. Males sometimes look all-black but also show green and maroon iridescent patches in good light. Females have pale eyebrows and streaked underparts. Found in forest, moist scrub, woodland, and gardens. Generally uncommon. The song is a mix of “chyup” notes and higher scratchy notes and twitters. Male is distinctive in good light. Female can be confused with female Scarlet-chested Sunbird but shows an eyebrow stripe and has streaks rather than smudges below. Also similar to female Green-throated Sunbird, but less boldly streaked below than that species.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.