Green parakeet

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Green parakeet
Temporal range: Pleistocene - Present [1]
Green Parakeet -in tree -South Texas-8.jpg
Nominate subspecies in South Texas, United States
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [3]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Psittacara
Species:
P. holochlorus
Binomial name
Psittacara holochlorus
(Sclater, PL, 1859)
Psittacara holochlorus map.svg
Range of green parakeet sensu lato including the Socorro and Pacific parakeets (See the Taxonomy section)

The green parakeet (Psittacara holochlorus), green conure or Mexican green conure [4] is a New World parrot. As defined by the International Ornithological Committee (IOC), it is native to Mexico and southern Texas in the Rio Grande Valley. (but see the Taxonomy section for more). [5]

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

The green parakeet was for a time placed in the genus Aratinga as A. holochlora but from about 2013 has been in its present genus Psittacara. [6] [7] [5] Its taxonomy is otherwise unsettled. The IOC assigns it two subspecies, the nominate P. h. holochlorus (Sclater, PL, 1859) and P. h. brewsteri (Nelson, 1928). The American Ornithological Society (AOS) and the Clements taxonomy add P. h. rubritorquis (Sclater, PL, 1887), which the IOC treats as a separate species, the red-throated parakeet. BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World accepts rubritorquis as a species but includes P. h. brevipes (Lawrence, 1871) and P. h. strenuus (Ridgway, 1915) as subspecies of the green parakeet. The IOC, AOS, and Clements treat those two taxa as separate species, the Socorro parakeet and Pacific parakeet respectively. [5] [8] [9] [10]

This article follows the IOC two-subspecies model.

Description

The green parakeet is 28 to 30.5 cm (11 to 12 in) long and weighs about 230 g (8.1 oz). The sexes are alike. Adults of both subspecies are generally green that is paler and yellower on their underparts. Their cheeks and throat have variable amounts of red speckles. Their underwing coverts are yellowish green and the undersides of their flight feathers and tail are olive-yellow. Their iris is orange-red surrounded by bare pale beige skin, their bill horn colored, and their legs and feet brownish. The subspecies P. h. brewsteri is overall somewhat darker than the nominate and has a slight glaucous cast on its head. [11]

Distribution and habitat

The nominate subspecies of the green parakeet is found naturally in eastern Mexico from Nuevo León and Tamaulipas south to Veracruz. The subspecies P. h. brewsteri is found in the northwestern Mexican states of Sonora, Sinaloa, and Chihuahua. [11] In the United States, the species is established in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas; that sub-population's origin is unknown but could be derived from introduced individuals or by natural dispersion. [8] [12] [13] Sightings in California, Florida, and New Mexico are believed to be of escaped or released cage birds and the species is not on those states' lists. [14] [15] [16] [17]

In its native range, the green parakeet inhabits semi-open landscapes including deciduous woodland, gallery forest, and scrublands. It shuns humid lowland forest and is typically found at elevations between 500 and 2,000 m (1,600 and 6,600 ft). In Texas it is also found in cities and towns. [11]

Behavior

Movement

The green parakeet is non-migratory but makes local movements in response to food availability. [11]

Feeding

The green parakeet's diet has not been fully documented but is known to include seed and fruits. It can be a crop pest. [11]

Breeding

The green parakeet's breeding season has not been defined but appears to include at least January to April. It nests in tree cavities, caves, and cliff faces. The clutch size is four eggs. The incubation period is thought to be 23 days; the time to fledging and details of parental care are not known. [11]

Vocalization

The green parakeet has a variety of vocalizations including "sharp squeaky notes", "loud harsh calls", and "shrill noisy chattering". Its flight call is "a rolling, harsh and high pitched screek...screek." [11]

Status

The IUCN follows the HBW taxonomy and so includes the Socorro and Pacific parakeets in its assessment of the green parakeet as being of Least Concern. It has estimated that the combined population numbers about 200,000 mature individuals and is decreasing. No immediate threats to the Mexican population have been identified. [2] NatureServe considers the species Vulnerable in Texas due to hunting pressure. [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific parakeet</span> Species of bird

The Pacific parakeet, known as Pacific conure or Nicaraguan green conure in aviculture, is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cliff parakeet</span> Species of bird

The cliff parakeet is a Near Threatened species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is endemic to Bolivia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-eyed parakeet</span> Species of bird

The white-eyed parakeet, known in aviculture as white-eyed conure, is a species of bird in the subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in every mainland South American country except Chile and also on Trinidad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green-fronted hummingbird</span>

The green-fronted hummingbird is a species of hummingbird in the "emeralds", tribe Trochilini of subfamily Trochilinae. It is found in Mexico and possibly Guatemala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socorro parakeet</span> Species of bird

The Socorro parakeet, known in aviculture as the Socorro green conure or Socorro conure, is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is endemic to Socorro Island in the Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hispaniolan parakeet</span> Species of bird

The Hispaniolan parakeet is a Vulnerable species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is endemic to the island of Hispaniola which is shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. In the former country it is called "perico" and in the latter "perruche".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finsch's parakeet</span> Species of bird

Finsch's parakeet, also known as the crimson-fronted parakeet and in aviculture as Finsch's conure, is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Panama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitred parakeet</span> Species of bird

The mitred parakeet, also known as the mitred conure in aviculture, is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is native to Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. It has been introduced to Uruguay and is established there. There are also substantial populations in the US states of California and Florida and smaller numbers in Hawaii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olive-throated parakeet</span> Species of bird

The olive-throated parakeet, also known as the olive-throated conure in aviculture, is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found from Mexico to Costa Rica and in Jamaica; it has been introduced to the Dominican Republic on Hispaniola.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-throated parakeet</span> Species of bird

The red-throated parakeet, called red-throated conure in aviculture, is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarlet-fronted parakeet</span> Species of bird

The scarlet-fronted parakeet, known in aviculture as the scarlet-fronted conure,red-fronted conure, or Wagler's conure, is a Near Threatened species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in Colombia and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Painted parakeet</span> Species of bird

The painted parakeet, known as the painted conure in aviculture, is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Suriname, and Venezuela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middle American screech owl</span> Species of owl

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rose-fronted parakeet</span> Species of bird

The rose-fronted parakeet, known as the rose-fronted conure in aviculture, is a species of bird in the subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru.

<i>Psittacara</i> Genus of birds

Psittacara is a genus of parakeets in the tribe Arini. Species of the genus are found in Central and South America, the Caribbean and one species reaching the southern United States. Until 2013, all the species were placed in the genus Aratinga. Many of the Psittacara species are kept in aviculture or as companion parrots, where they are commonly known as conures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venezuelan parakeet</span> Species of bird

The Venezuelan parakeet or Emma's conure is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is endemic to Venezuela.

The Sinú parakeet is a bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World recognizes it as a full species. The International Ornithological Committee (IOC), the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society, and the Clements taxonomy treat it as a subspecies of the painted parakeet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-tailed parrot</span> Species of bird

The yellow-tailed parrot, also known as the central white-bellied parrot, is a bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is endemic to Brazil. The South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society, the International Ornithological Committee, and the Clements taxonomy treat the yellow-tailed parrot as a subspecies of the white-bellied parrot. BirdLife International's Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) considers it a full species. It is rare in captivity in comparison to other taxa of the genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tres Marías amazon</span> Species of bird

The Tres Marías amazon is a subspecies of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is endemic to the Islas Marías off the Pacific coast of Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordilleran parakeet</span> Species of bird

The cordilleran parakeet is a Near Threatened species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.

References

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Further reading