Gray-breasted Parakeet
Pyrrhura griseipectus
Highly gregarious small parakeet with a long, pointed tail. Has a chestnut face, a dark cap, a grayish scalloped breast, and a large red patch on the belly. Inhabits a handful of high-elevation forests across a very restricted range that it shares with few similar species.
Identification
The grey-breasted parakeet is 20 to 23 cm (7.9 to 9.1 in) long. The sexes are the same. Adults have a brown crown, a plum-red face, and white ear coverts. Their upperparts are mostly green with a red-brown rump. Their chin, throat, and the sides of their neck are grayish with a scaly appearance. The center of their belly is red-brown and the rest of their underparts are green. Their wing is mostly green with a red shoulder and bluish flight feathers. Their tail is red-brown. Immatures are similar to adults.
Taxonomy
Until the early 2000s the grey-breasted parakeet was considered a subspecies of the white-eared parakeet (P. leucotis), which is also called maroon-faced parakeet. There is some thought that the specific epithet griseipectus should be replaced by anaca, which was originally applied to another parakeet, but which appears to have priority.
- Scientific name
- Pyrrhura griseipectus
- Authority
- Salvadori, 1900
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Genus
- Pyrrhura
Range and habitat
The grey-breasted parakeet is found in only three sites, all in the Brazilian state of Ceará, though it formerly was known from as many as 15 locations. As of 2020, populations are known in Serra do Baturité, Quixadá, and Ibaretama. It inhabits patches of tall humid forest within otherwise dry caatinga and in granite- or sandstone-dominated areas. It is almost always found above 500 m (1,600 ft) of elevation.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The grey-breasted parakeet is not known to have any pattern of movement.<p>The grey-breasted parakeet forages for fruits and seeds in the forest canopy.<p>The grey-breated parakeet's breeding season is not fully known but does include February and March. It nests in cavities in trees and in rocks, and also uses nest boxes erected by conservation projects. The clutch size can be as high as seven eggs. The incubation period, time to fledging, and details of parental care are not known.<p>The grey-breasted parakeet's call is a "piercing, fast, chattering 't'kreet-kreet-wik-kreet-krit'."
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Malagasy Brush-Warbler
Nesillas typica
Medium-sized brown bird with a long, spiky tail. Found in a wide variety of moist and woody habitats, including rainforest, wet scrub, plantations, and gardens. Absent or very local in much of west and southwest Madagascar. Skulks in thick undergrowth. Incessantly given call is a Geiger counter-like ticking. Darker brown than Subdesert Brush-Warbler, with a lower-pitched call and little overlap in range. Similar to Madagascar Swamp-Warbler, but has less distinct breast streaking and white eyebrow, and is generally found in scrub rather than marsh.
Tufted Tit-Spinetail
Leptasthenura platensis
Small, charismatic species with a long spiky tail and a short crest. Has generally pale gray-brown plumage with a streaked throat and crest. Occurs in woodland, scrub, and gallery forests. Forages acrobatically from the understory up to the canopy. The song starts with sharp notes and ends with a very thin trill: “tsi, tsirrrrr.”
Brownish Elaenia
Elaenia pelzelni
Medium-sized nondescript flycatcher. Has a dull brown back, whitish underparts, and three distinct pale wingbars. The white crown patch is often concealed. Inhabits forest along wide lowland rivers, including older river islands. Calls include a low double note: “chick-ert.”
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