Crimson-bellied Parakeet
Pyrrhura perlata
Long-tailed parakeet. Has green and blue cheeks, a scaled gray breast, and a conspicuous bright red belly. In flight, note the red on the underwing that looks continuous with the belly. Found in pairs or small noisy groups, at the edge or in the canopy of humid and second growth forests. The flight calls are harsh “krree krree krree” notes.
Identification
The crimson-bellied parakeet is 24 to 25 cm (9.4 to 9.8 in) long and weighs 76 to 91 g (2.7 to 3.2 oz). The sexes are the same. Adults have a dark grayish brown head flecked with pale grayish buff, dark brownish gray ear coverts, a goldish green upper cheeks, and turquoise-blue lower cheeks. Their nape has a narrow blue band. Their upperparts are green with a bluish tinge. Their throat, upper breast, and the sides of their neck are gray to blue with a scaly appearance, and sometimes with pinkish tips to the feathers. The belly and upper flanks are bright red and their lower flanks and vent area are greeish blue. Their wing is mostly green, with black and cobalt blue primaries and red underwing coverts. Their tail's top surface is reddish brown and the lower surface is blackish brown. Their iris is dark brown, their bill blackish, and their legs blackish gray. Immatures are similar to adults but have a mostly green belly.
Taxonomy
The crimson-bellied parakeet's taxonomic history is potentially confusing. It has been assigned to several genera since its original description. Since the mid-1800s it was known as Pyrrhura rhodogaster, but following a 1983 review it was discovered that the type specimen for P. perlata, long believed to belong to the closely related pearly parakeet, actually was a juvenile crimson-bellied parakeet. Consequently, P. perlata was transferred to this species, while P. rhodogaster became a junior synonym under the principle of priority.<p>The crimson-bellied parakeet is monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Pyrrhura perlata
- Authority
- (Spix, 1824)
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Genus
- Pyrrhura
Range and habitat
The crimson-bellied parakeet is found in the Amazon Basin from the Mamoré River in northeastern Bolivia east into Brazil south of the Amazon River in the states of Mato Grosso, Rondônia, Amazonas, and Pará. It mostly inhabits the canopy and edges of humid terra firme forest and secondary forest, and also occurs in drier lowland forest. In elevation it ranges as high as 600 m (2,000 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The crimson-bellied parakeet is non-migratory.<p>The crimson-bellied parakeet feeds mainly on fruit but also includes flowers in its diet.<p>The crimson-bellied parakeet breeds between August and November, and possibly from April to June. It is assumed to nest in tree cavities like other Pyrrhura parakeets. Their clutch size is four to six eggs. The incubation period is 25 days and fledging occurs seven to eight weeks after hatch.<p>The crimson-bellied parakeet's call is a "high, rapid "wrr'wur-wir-wir-wir"." It also makes "a strange, slightly toy-trumpet-like "peeéh"."
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Pale Thrush
Turdus pallidus
Although not actually pale, this brownish songbird is one of the plainer thrushes in its range. Found in areas of open woodland and scrubland; less tied to extensive forests than other thrushes, particularly in the winter, when it may often be found near reedbeds and in thickets. Sexes similar, both earthen-brown above, paler below, with grayish head, but male has darker ash-gray face, female a dingy white throat. White tail corners obvious in flight.
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Camptostoma obsoletum
Small flycatcher, common and widespread from Costa Rica to Argentina. Plumage is nondescript (and quite variable across range), but note bushy crest, active behavior, short bill, and plain face. Singles, pairs, or small groups can be found in a variety of wooded habitats, from dry scrub to the edge of mature rainforest, but often prefers second growth. Voice varies across range, with different populations probably representing separate species. Northern birds give plaintive whistled “teew, teew, teew” notes. Southern birds can give much different descending sputtering trill in addition to plaintive whistles.
White-eared Jacamar
Galbalcyrhynchus leucotis
Chunky-looking bird with a small head and a larger bill than other jacamars, recalling a kingfisher. Chestnut-colored overall with a pinkish-red bill. Occurs in humid upland and seasonally flooded forests, where it is most often seen flycatching from exposed branches, often in small groups. The song is a high, whistled “péeeuh- péeeuh- péeeuh- péeeuh.”
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.