| Pearly parakeet | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittacidae |
| Genus: | Pyrrhura |
| Species: | P. lepida |
| Binomial name | |
| Pyrrhura lepida (Wagler, 1832) | |
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The pearly parakeet (Pyrrhura lepida), known as the pearly conure in aviculture, is a Vulnerable species in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is endemic to Brazil. [3] [1]
The pearly parakeet's taxonomic history is potentially confusing. It was formerly known as Pyrrhura perlata, but following a review it was discovered that the type specimen, long believed to belong to this species, actually was a juvenile of the closely related crimson-bellied parakeet. Consequently, P. perlata was transferred to that species, while under the principle of priority the next name in line for the pearly parakeet, P. lepida, became its valid scientific name. [4] [5]
Three subspecies of the pearly parakeet are recognized, the nominate P. l. lepida (Wagler, 1832), P. l. anerythra (Neumann, 1927), and P. l. coerulescens (Neumann, 1927). [3] In 2011, a review found that lepida and coerulescens were essentially inseparable by their morphology. If this were confirmed genetically it would usually result in coerulescens being a junior synonym of the older name lepida, but upon closer inspection the type specimen of the latter is a hybrid. This invalidates the name lepida and leaves coerulescens as the valid name for the combined lepida and coerulescens and the species as a whole. Subspecies anerythra may in addition warrant elevation to full species status. [6]
The pearly parakeet is 24 to 25 cm (9.4 to 9.8 in) long and weighs 70 to 80 g (2.5 to 2.8 oz). The sexes are the same. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a dark brown crown and buff ear coverts; the rest of their face is dull blue-green with whitish bare skin around the eye. Their upperparts are green with a bluish tinge. Their upper breast and the sides of their neck are brown with buff scaling; the breast has a blue tinge. The rest of their underparts are green with a blue wash. 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 brownish black, and their legs slate-black. Immatures are similar to adults. Subspecies P. l. coerulescens has a paler head than the nominate, a grayer throat and upper breast, and a stronger blue tinge in the lower breast. P. l. anerythra has a red tinge instead of blue on the breast and belly and no red on the wing. [4] [7]
The pearly parakeet is found only in north-central Brazil. The nominate subspecies is found in northeastern Pará and northwestern Maranhão states. P. l. coerulescens is found in eastern Pará between the Xingu and Tocantins rivers. P. l. anerythra is found in central and northeastern Maranhão, and a few have been recorded in Mato Grosso. The species inhabits the interior and edges of humid terra firme forest, secondary forest, and sometimes clearings near the forest. [4] [7]
The pearly parakeet's movements, if any, have not been determined. [4]
The pearly parakeet is known to feed on fruits but further details of its diet are lacking. [4]
Nothing is known about the pearly parakeet's breeding biology. [4]
The pearly parakeet's calls "possess a rather grating quality, the notes usually given in fast series, e.g. "krree krree krree" or "krek krek krek" " and are given both from a perch and in flight. However, perched birds are often silent. Flocks in flight "call frequently and simultaneously, producing a noisy, harsh and piercing chattering." [4]
The IUCN originally assessed the pearly parakeet as Threatened, then in 2004 as Near Threatened, and since 2012 as Vulnerable. It has a limited range and an unknown population size that is believed to be decreasing. "The most severe threat to the species is the loss of its habitat. Large areas of lowland forests within the range are already severely altered or have been fully cleared." [1] The species occurs in several nominally protected areas but many of them suffer from illegal logging. [4]
The green-cheeked parakeet, known as the green-cheeked 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 Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
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.
The sulphur-winged parakeet, also known as Hoffmann's 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 Costa Rica and Panama.
Pyrrhura is a genus of parrots in the Arini tribe. They occur in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America. Most are restricted to humid forest and adjacent habitats, but one species, the blaze-winged parakeet, prefers deciduous or gallery woodland, and another, the Pfrimer's parakeet, is restricted to dry regions. Some species are highly endangered.
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.
The brown-throated parakeet, also known as the St. Thomas conure or brown-throated 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 Costa Rica, Panama, the northern mainland of South America, and islands off the South American coast.
The cobalt-winged parakeet is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela.
The white-breasted parakeet or white-necked parakeet is a Vulnerable species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in southern Ecuador and possibly in adjacent northern Peru.
The blaze-winged parakeet, known as the blaze-winged 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, Bolivia, Paraguay, and possibly Argentina.
The blood-eared parakeet, also known as the red-eared parakeet and in aviculture as the red-eared 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 maroon-tailed parakeet is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
The crimson-bellied parakeet, known as the crimson-bellied 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 Bolivia and Brazil.
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.
The grey-breasted parakeet is an Endangered species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is endemic to Ceará in northeastern Brazil.
The white-eared parakeet or maroon-faced parakeet is a Vulnerable species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is endemic to Brazil.
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.
The Santarém parakeet, also known as Hellmayr's parakeet or in aviculture as Hellmayr's conure or the Santarém conure, is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is found in the eastern and central sections of the Amazon basin south of the Amazon River, only just extending onto the northern bank of this river.
Bonaparte's parakeet, also known as Deville's parakeet, or in aviculture as Deville's conure, is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is restricted to the Brazilian state of Amazonas south of the Solimões river.
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.
