Olive-throated Parakeet
Eupsittula nana
Parakeets are fairly small parrots, usually with a relatively long and somewhat pointed tail. This species is fairly common in tropical lowlands, mainly in semi-open areas with scattered trees, woodland, locally in towns and suburban areas. Often in small flocks, also in pairs. Note the dirty brownish cast to the breast, and the whitish eyering. In most parts of its range, no other parakeets occur.
Identification
The "Jamaican" olive-throated parakeet E. n. nana is the nominate subspecies; it is 22 to 26 cm (8.7 to 10 in) long and weighs about 72 to 85 g (2.5 to 3.0 oz). The "Aztec" olive-throated parakeet is 21.5 to 25 cm (8.5 to 9.8 in) long and weighs about 85 g (3.0 oz). The sexes are alike. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a mainly dark green head and upperparts with yellowish ear coverts and rump. Bare white skin surrounds their eye. Their throat and breast are olive-brown that becomes olive on the belly and vent. Their wings are mostly green with dull blue on the upper side of the flight feathers and gray on their underside. Their tail's upper surface is green and its underside is yellowish. Their bill is browish horn color with a paler tip, their iris yellow to orange, and their legs blackish gray. Immature birds are similar to adults.<p>Subspecies E. n. astec ("Aztec" in part) has paler olive-brown underparts, especially on the belly and vent. Subspecies E. n. vicinalis is slightly larger than astec and is brighter green above and greener below.
Taxonomy
The olive-throated parakeet was long included in genus Aratinga but since about 2014 has been in Eupsittula. The American Ornithological Society, the International Ornithological Committee, and the Clements taxonomy assign these three subspecies to the olive-throated parakeet:<p>BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) treats E. n. astec as the species "Aztec parakeet" with E. n. vicinalis as a subspecies of it. It treats E. n. nana by itself as the "Jamaican parakeet".<p>This article follows the single species, three-subspecies, model.
- Scientific name
- Eupsittula nana
- Authority
- (Vigors, 1830)
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Genus
- Eupsittula
Range and habitat
The olive-throated parakeet has two widely disjunct populations. The nominate subspecies E. n. nana is found naturally in Jamaica and has been introduced to the Dominican Republic. Subspecies E. n. vicinalis is found in northeastern Mexico from Tamaulipas to northern Veracruz. E. n. astec is found on the Caribbean side from Veracruz through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica into western Panama's Bocas del Toro Province.<p>The olive-throated parakeet's principal habitat is deciduous woodlands. It also inhabits the interior and edges of humid forest, riparian areas, scrublands, and more open landscapes such as plantations, clearings with trees, and gardens. It occurs in pine stands throughout, a habitat which is heavily used in the Dominican Republic. In elevation it reaches 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in Mexico, 1,100 m (3,600 ft) in Honduras, 700 m (2,300 ft) in Costa Rica, and 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in Jamaica.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The nominate subspecies of the olive-throated parakeet makes some movements between moist and dryer habitats in response to the availability of food. The other two subspecies are generally considered to be year-round residents, but E. n. astec visits Caye Caulker off Belize in winter.<p>A major part of the olive-throated parakeet's diet is fig fruits (Ficus); other fruits, leaves, and flowers are also eaten. On Jamaica the species is typically seen in flocks of up to about 20 individuals. On that island it is a crop pest, feeding especially on maize but also on corn and cultivated fruits. On the mainland, flocks can have 50 or more members and sometimes include Finsch's parakeet (Psittacara finschi).<p>The nominate subspecies of the olive-throated parakeet nests between March and June in Jamaica and somewhat earlier in the Dominican Republic. It nests between January and April in Costa Rica and April and May in Belize and Guatemala. In all areas it nests in cavities in termitaria, which it usually excavates itself. It has nested in tree holes in Jamaica. The clutch size is three to five eggs. The incubation period, time to fledging, and details of parental care are not known.<p>The olive-throated parakeet's vocalizations differ little among the subspecies. Their calls are "a sharp, grating “krik-krik-krik-krik” or raucous “krrieh krrie krreah”."
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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Handsome grassland bird found from the southwestern US to central Mexico. It was long considered a subspecies of the widespread Eastern Meadowlark, but recent research has shown that it should be treated as a distinct species. In the limited area where their ranges meet, note that Chihuahuan Meadowlark has paler flanks and more white in the tail. Separating Chihuahuan Meadowlark and Western Meadowlark is a common ID challenge as their ranges mostly overlap. Voice is often the safest bet. Chihuahuan Meadowlark has a simpler, less gurgled song and its typical call note is a sharp “zit” (not a low “chuck”). Silent birds can be identified if the tail is seen well. Chihuahuan Meadowlark’s outer four tail feathers are almost completely white, whereas the white in Western Meadowlark’s tail is mostly restricted to the outer three feathers. Chihuahuan Meadowlark’s cheek also tends to be paler, though this is not always a reliable feature. Prefers tall, undisturbed grassland areas, often scattered with oak trees. Feeds on the ground where it usually stays well hidden, and sometimes sits on exposed perches, especially when singing.
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