Green-cheeked Parakeet (Pyrrhura molinae)

Green-cheeked Parakeet

Green-cheeked Parakeet

[order] PSITTACIFORMES | [family] Psittacidae | [latin] Pyrrhura molinae | [authority] Massena and Souance, 1854 | [UK] Green-cheeked Parakeet | [FR] Conure de Molina | [DE] Molinasittich | [ES] Chiripepe de Cabeza Gris, Cotorra de Molina | [NL] Groenwangparkiet | [copyright picture] Brandon Lim

Subspecies

Genus Species subspecies Region Range
Pyrrhura molinae SA c
Pyrrhura molinae australis s Bolivia to nw Argentina
Pyrrhura molinae flavoptera w Bolivia
Pyrrhura molinae molinae highlands of e Bolivia
Pyrrhura molinae phoenicurus ne Bolivia, w Brazil
Pyrrhura molinae restricta lowlands of e Bolivia
Pyrrhura molinae sordida extreme e Bolivia, sw Brazil

Genus

The genus Pyrrhura includes a rich set of small to medium-sized species of parakeets, mostly confined to dense habitats in South America. Also, they inhabit dry as well as tall rainforests which occur from sea level up to 2000m. These birds exploit several tree species and use a variety of food items, from nectar to pure seeds. All have long, pointed tails, a mainly green plumage, and a relatively narrow, dark greyish to white eye-ring. Many have scaly or barred chest-patterns and a whitish, pale grey, buff or reddish ear-patch. They typically move around in small, noisy flocks, flying swiftly at or below canopy level. Once settled in a tree they tend to be silent (especially if aware of danger) and difficult to spot. They nest in a tree-crevice.

Physical charateristics

Generally green, Green-cheeked Parakeets have brown on the forehead, nape, and ear-coverts, a bare white orbital ring, green cheeks, brown and whitish scaling on the throat and sides of the neck, a brown and yellow breast, a reddish tail and belly and blue flight feathers.

Listen to the sound of Green-cheeked Parakeet

[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/PSITTACIFORMES/Psittacidae/sounds/Green-cheeked Parakeet.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto

recorded by Ross MacLeod


wingspan min.: 0 cm wingspan max.: 0 cm
size min.: 26 cm size max.: 28 cm
incubation min.: 22 days incubation max.: 24 days
fledging min.: 45 days fledging max.: 50 days
broods: 1   eggs min.: 2  
      eggs max.: 4  

Range

South America : Central. Green-cheeked Parakeets are found from western Brazil south to Bolivia and northwestern Argentina.

Habitat

Residents of deciduous lowland woodland, secondary forest, gallery forest and humid subtropical forest, higher altitude populations descend to more moderate elevations during autumn and winter. These parakeets are common throughout most of their range, with much suitable habitat extant.

Reproduction

Builds nest in tree hole, sometimes only 5 meter up. Clutch size in captivity is 3 eggs which are incubated for about 23 days, young fledge after another 7 weeks.

Feeding habits

Gregarious outside breeding season. Seen in flocks of 10-20 individuals and more. Forages in tree-tops. No information on diet.

Video Green-cheeked Parakeet

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnySa1-8M04

copyright: Josep del Hoyo


Conservation

This species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Green-cheeked Parakeet status Least Concern

Migration

Resident with some altitudinal movements by the higher living populations.

Distribution map

Green-cheeked Parakeet distribution range map

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