Slender-billed parakeet | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Psittaciformes |
Family: | Psittacidae |
Genus: | Enicognathus |
Species: | E. leptorhynchus |
Binomial name | |
Enicognathus leptorhynchus (King, 1831) | |
Approximate range in green |
The slender-billed parakeet (Enicognathus leptorhynchus) or choroy, is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is endemic to Chile, where it is known by the local common name choroy. [3] [4]
The slender-billed parakeet has also been named Enicognathus byroni, but the current specific epithet leptorhynchus has priority. [4] It shares its genus with the austral parakeet (E. ferrugineus) and is monotypic. [3]
The slender-billed parakeet is about 40 cm (16 in) long. The species' English name comes from its greatly elongated mandible. The sexes are the same. Adults have a red forehead and lores in an otherwise yellow-green face. Their upperparts are dull green. Their underparts are yellowish green with a reddish patch on the belly. Their tail is also reddish; their wings are mostly green with bluish green primaries. Immature birds are similar to adults but are a darker green and have whitish skin around the eye. [4]
The slender-billed parakeet is endemic to central Chile between the Santiago Metropolitan Region and Los Lagos Region; it also occurs in the Aysén Region, but rarely, and has been recorded as a vagrant in Argentina. [3] [4] [5]
The slender-billed parakeet primarily inhabits southern beech ( Nothofagus ) and Chilean pine ( Araucaria araucana ) forest. It also occurs in nearby semi-open areas, ranchlands, and in cultivated areas, all of them usually in winter. In elevation it ranges as high as 2,000 m (6,600 ft). [4]
The slender-billed parakeet moves from the upper elevations to lower ones in the austral winter months of May through September. [4]
The slender-billed parakeet's year-round diet includes seeds of grass and thistle, buds, and berries. In autumn the seeds of Araucaria are a major component; it appears that its unusual bill is adapted to feed on them. Seeds of Nothofagus are also important at other times of the year. It is a serious agricultural pest on Chiloé Island. [4]
The slender-billed parakeet breeds between November and February. It usually nests in tree cavities and is known to add twigs to raise a deep cavities's floor. Often several pairs will nest in the same tree. It also occasionally uses rock crevices and has been recorded making a twig nest in bamboo. At least one nest held 10 eggs but they were suspected of being laid by two females; another nest held five eggs. The incubation period is about 26 to 28 days and fledging occurs about 42 to 45 days after hatch. [4]
The slender-billed parakeet's most common call is "a nasal grating note, typically repeated in long series, e.g. “grrreh-grrreh-grrreh...”." It also makes "higher-pitched slightly more melodious screeches, “kreeh!” or “kerreh!”." [4]
The IUCN has assessed the slender-billed parakeet as being of Least Concern. It has a fairly large range and though its population size is not known it is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified. [1] Though its population declined in the 1950s and 1960s due to deforestation and other causes, it is still considered fairly common. It is gregarious and roosts communally; roosts of up to 2000 individuals have been noted. [4]
Conures are a diverse, loosely defined group of small to medium-sized parrots. They belong to several genera within a long-tailed group of the New World parrot subfamily Arinae. The term "conure" is used primarily in bird keeping, though it has appeared in some scientific journals. The American Ornithologists' Union uses the generic term parakeet for all species elsewhere called conure, though Joseph Forshaw, a prominent Australian ornithologist, uses conure.
The green parakeet, green conure, or Mexican green conure 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.
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.
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.
The Andean parakeet is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.
The austral parakeet, austral conure, cachaña, rawilma or emerald parakeet is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in Argentina, Chile, and possibly the Falkland Islands.
The Tucumán amazon, also known as the Tucumán parrot, alder amazon, or alder parrot, is a vulnerable species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia.
The vinaceous-breasted amazon, also called the vinaceous-breasted parrot and occasionally simply vinaceous amazon/parrot is an endangered species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.
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.
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 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.
The golden-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, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.
The orange-chinned parakeet, also known as the Tovi parakeet, is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found from southern Mexico through Central America into Colombia and Venezuela.
The grey-cheeked parakeet, less commonly known as fire-winged parakeet, is a vulnerable species of bird in the subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in Ecuador and Peru.
The tui 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, Peru, and possibly Ecuador.
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 tufted tit-spinetail is a species of bird in the Furnariinae subfamily of the ovenbird family Furnariidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and possibly Paraguay.
The grey-breasted parakeet is an Endangered species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. Long thought to be endemic to Ceará in northeastern Brazil, it has also been documented in Bahia.
The Chilean elaenia is a species of bird in subfamily Elaeniinae of family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.