Yellow-eared Parrot
Ognorhynchus icterotis
Endangered macaw-like parrot found in Andean cloud forest. Likely only occurs in Colombia now, but formerly ranged as far south as central Ecuador. Notably large and thick-billed with yellow forehead, cheeks, and underparts; red in tail is often not visible. Usually seen in flocks of a few to a dozen birds that fly from one fruiting tree to another giving deep, rich squawks. Dependent on wax palms for nesting and roosting, which have been relentlessly harvested and cleared for pasture.
Identification
The yellow-eared parrot is a relatively large, long-tailed parrot, with an average length of 42 cm (17 in) and a weight of about 285 g (10.1 oz). It is overall green, with the underparts being paler, more lime green than the upperparts. The heavy beak and a ring of bare skin around the eyes are black. The origin of the common epithet "yellow-eared" derives from the yellow patch of feathers that extends from the forehead down to its cheeks and ear-coverts. Its calls sound similar to those of geese.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Ognorhynchus icterotis
- Authority
- (Massena & Souancé, 1854)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Genus
- Ognorhynchus
Range and habitat
The yellow-eared parrot nests and lives among wax palms in a few areas of Western and Central cordilleras of Colombia, which are northern sub-ranges of the Andes, where it inhabits cloud forests about 1800–3000 meters above sea level. It nests in the hollow trunks of the palms, usually 25–30 meters over the floor level. It also occurred very locally in northern Ecuador. Its numbers have been greatly reduced, and only 81 individuals were recorded in the Colombian census of 1999. Their populations have been impacted by hunting and habitat destruction, particularly the harvesting of wax palm, which was traditionally cut down and used each year on Palm Sunday. There has been no confirmed record of this parrot from Ecuador since the mid-1990s. The number of mature individuals in the population is 212, though it is thought that there is a total of 1,408 individuals in the wild.<p>It is also found in Riosucio, Caldas in Colombia.
- Migration
- Nomadic movement
Behavior
Yellow-eared parrots rely on the wax palm for much of their life cycle. One of their principle foods is the wax palm fruit, although they will eat other fruits and seeds as well, plus bark, buds and ferns. They nest in these trees because of their hollow trunks, which is about 30 meters above the forest floor, making their habitat in the cloud forests and elfin forests of Colombia.<p>Yellow-eared parrots tend to be social birds who gather in flocks of about one to two dozen at times. Several of these parrots tend to cooperate in rearing chicks which increases their chances of survival. These birds can have up to two broods of young per year.
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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