Gray-hooded Parakeet
Psilopsiagon aymara
Small, gregarious parakeet of the high Andes from central Argentina to Lake Titicaca. Tends to forage in small groups in shorter shrubs and bushes, including Polylepis. Often near roadsides, settlements and roadsides. Prefers hillsides, and is absent from most flat areas of the altiplano. From Mountain Parakeet by white throat, gray cap, and longer tail. Calls a quiet, three part “squi-da-dit” given quickly and often in flight.
Identification
The grey-hooded parakeet is a small, slender parakeet growing to a length of about 20 cm (8 in). The upper parts are green and the flanks and underwing coverts are greenish-yellow. The forehead and crown are brownish-grey, and the chin, throat and breast are whitish-grey, sometimes with a bluish tinge at the side of the breast. The belly is green with a bluish tinge. The upper side of the long, narrow, pointed tail is green and the underside is grey. The beak is flesh-coloured, the iris is brown and the legs and feet are brownish-grey. The sexes are similar in appearance, but the male often has a more vivid grey breast, and immature birds have shorter tails.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Psilopsiagon aymara
- Authority
- (d'Orbigny, 1841)
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Genus
- Psilopsiagon
Range and habitat
The grey-hooded parakeet is native to the southern Andean Yungas, its range extending from southern Bolivia to northern Argentina, and possibly the northern fringes of Chile. It is a bird of arid shrubby or wooded habitats, wooded ravines, and dense shrubby areas near villages or agricultural land. Its altitudinal range is from about 1,800 to 4,000 m (6,000 to 13,000 ft).
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
The grey-hooded parakeet is a gregarious bird, forming small flocks of about twenty birds, several of which groups may gather together at watering places. The flocks roam the countryside in rapid low, undulating flight, sometimes resting on top of or among the branches of shrubs and small trees, making twittering and warbling sounds rather similar to those made by a barn swallow. They feed in low vegetation, consuming grass seeds, seeds of plants in the aster family, berries and fruits, also foraging on the ground for fallen seeds and fruits. Breeding takes place in November. The nest is situated in a hole excavated in an earth bank, in a crevice, in a hole in a cactus or sometimes in a ruined building. Several nests are sometimes grouped together semi-colonially. Clutches are usually of four or five eggs.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Elliot's Storm-Petrel
Oceanites gracilis
Common small storm-petrel of the northern Humboldt Current (can be seen from shore in northern Chile) and Galapagos Islands (where often follows boats, pattering in the wake with long legs dangling). Flight rather weak and fluttery, unlike strong deep wingbeats of Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel, which also follows boats in Galapagos. The long legs and feet of Elliot’s project past tip of tail, unlike Wedge-rumped. Plumage similar to the slightly larger Wilson’s Storm-Petrel (but note white belly of Elliot's), and are often not safely distinguished at sea.
Northern Puffback
Dryoscopus gambensis
Mid-sized bushshrike in which males and females are very different. Males are mostly black and white, with gray on the rump and shoulder. Females are brown on the back and buffy below. Found in a variety of savanna habitats, plus woodland, mangroves, and along forest edge. Generally common and conspicuous bird that often joins mixed-species flocks. The most common vocalization is a rising “kyeeewu,” but also gives scolding and ratcheting calls. Males separated from Black-backed Puffback by the gray rump and shoulder. Females separated from Pringle’s Puffback by their larger size and all-dark bill.
Blue-collared Parrot
Geoffroyus simplex
A medium-sized parrot from foothill to mid-montane forest. Uniformly green with a black bill and pale eye. Male has a full pale-gray collar with a thin blue edge around the front. Often seen flying in flocks and difficult to see perched. In flight, bulky head and thinner tail gives a front-heavy appearance. May overlap altitudinally with similar sized Red-cheeked Parrot, but Blue-collared Parrot has an all green head. Best identified by voice. Call, a ringing, tuneless jumble of up and down notes.
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