Cuban Parakeet
Psittacara euops
A sleek green bird of forests, forest edges, and palm savannahs. Groups of ten to twenty birds often rapidly disappear upon landing, their plumage melting into the similarly colored foliage. Easily distinguished from other species in its range by its color, slim build, and long pointed tail. In overflight appears green with red on forewing. Flight call is shrill and squeaky; notes of each bird often given singly or in couplets. When perched, calls are typically quiet with a murmuring quality.
Identification
The Cuban parakeet is 22 to 29 cm (8.7 to 11 in) long and weighs 78 to 96 g (2.8 to 3.4 oz). The sexes are alike. Adults are mostly yellow-green that is paler on their underparts. They have red spots scattered on their head, neck, and breast; females have fewer than males. The edge of their wing and their underwing coverts are bright red. The undersides of their flight feathers and tail are pale green to olive. Their eye is light yellow surrounded by bare light pink to reddish white skin, their bill is light pink, and their feet are pink to ivory. Juveniles resemble adults, but have little or no red on the head and breast.
Taxonomy
The Cuban parakeet was for a time placed in the genus Aratinga but from about 2013 has been in its present genus Psittacara. It is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Psittacara euops
- Authority
- (Wagler, 1832)
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Genus
- Psittacara
Range and habitat
The Cuban parakeet formerly was found throughout the main island of Cuba and on Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Pines). It was extirpated from Isla de la Juventud by about 1900. In the 21st century it has a disjunct distribution in the Zapata Swamp; in parts of Villa Clara, Ciego de Ávila, Sancti Spíritus, Camagüey, and Guantanamo provinces; in the western Escambray Mountains; and in the Cauto River watershed.<p>The Cuban parakeet inhabits two quite different landscapes. One is savannas with many palms and isolated trees. The other is evergreen and semi-deciduous montane forest. Royal palm is present in both landscapes and is the species' preferred nest substrate.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The Cuban parakeet is very social and is usually seen in flocks that may number up to about 50 individuals.<p>The Cuban parakeet is not migratory.<p>The Cuban parakeet's diet includes seeds, fruits (both green and ripe), and flower buds, pollen, and nectar. More than 50 species of plants have been documented as sources. <p>The Cuban parakeet nests between February and September. Almost all nests are in holes excavated by woodpeckers though cavities in limestone cliffs are also used. No material is added to the substrate though in trees and palms the adults may loosen chips from the inner walls to line the bottom of the cavity. The clutch size is two to five eggs with an average of four. The incubation period is about 24 days and fledging occurs 55 to 60 days after hatch. The male brings food to the nest for the female which in turn feeds the nestlings.<p>The Cuban parakeet has a variety of vocalizations. Its "warning calls" in response to a predator are "more metallic than scraping; they can be described as erh, erh, erh, erh." Its "contact call" is used while feeding and is described as "kkkkeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrr". It also makes a "flight contact" call, usually when taking off and landing; it is similar to the warning call. "Courtship calls" are "smooth and short...and sound like keirp-keirp-keirp."
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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Medium-sized honeyguide with a plain face, a slim pale bill, yellow legs, and large white patches in the outer tail. Found in the middle levels and canopy of humid forest at low and middle elevations. The distinctive vocalization is a series of around a dozen rising “sveeya” notes. The series slows down and becomes slightly lower-pitched at the end. Very similar to Zenker’s Honeyguide, but there is only minor overlap in range, and Yellow-footed is paler overall with more white in the tail. Similar to other honeyguides, but separated by the slim bill and the yellow legs. Separated from most greenbuls by the white in the tail, and from Honeyguide and Sjöstedt's Greenbuls by the smaller size and shorter tail.
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Beautiful little flycatcher with a spiky crest found in the Andes of northern Peru, just barely reaching over the border into southern Ecuador. Male is quite distinctive with a solid black face, black-and-white streaking, and a long crest that sticks up in front of its white crown. Female and immature are grayer with less contrasting plumage and shorter crest; the orange bill might lead to confusion with Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, but Black-crested lacks brown on the back and yellow on the belly. Very similar to Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant, but Black-crested has broader white tips to the tail; also note its more northern range. Inhabits scrub and light woodland, often giving squeaks and rapid trills.
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