Rufous-fronted Parakeet
DID YOU KNOW?
The Rufous-fronted Parakeet is the only small parrot living in a very restricted, high altitude range.
Size:
18 cm (7 in)
Weight:
Not recorded.
Subspecies including nominate:
one
Colour Adult:
Both adults in general short, green parrots with red markings on face; red frontal mark, lores and base of lower mandible blue/green underwings; short rounded tail. Beak grey/yellow. Eye dark brown.
Colour Juvenile:
Not recorded.
Call:
Moderate, high-pitched chattering contact notes.
More Information:
WPT-supported project – Rufous-fronted Parakeet Conservation
Content Sources:
CITES
Avibase
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006. 2010 edition
Captive Status:
Not found in captivity.
Longevity:
—
Housing:
—
Diet:
—
Enrichment:
—
Nest Box Size:
—
Clutch Size:
Not recorded.
Fledging Age:
—
Hatch Weight:
—
Peak Weight:
—
Weaning Weight:
—
World Population:
20,000-49,999 mature individuals, decreasing.
IUCN Red List Status:
Vulnerable
CITES Listing:
Appendix II
Threat Summary:
A BirdLife ‘restricted-range’ species. Affected by the clearing of forest for agriculture and grazing and also the widespread destruction of páramo vegetation caused by slash burning. Wildfires are increasing in intensity and frequency, threatening large areas within the species’ range.
Range:
Found in Cordillera Central, C Colombia.
Habitat:
Occurs in cold, scrubby and sparsely wooded mountain slopes at around 2400-4000 m (7872-13,120 ft). May be found in potato fields.
Wild Diet:
Feeds on grass seeds on the ground, herbs and flowers, including possibly Calamagrostis effusa, seeds of frailejones, and flowers and achenes of Espeletia hartwegiana. Seen taking salt from livestock mineral feeders.
Ecology and Behaviour:
May be nomadic outside of breeding season; gregarious, roosts communally on cliffs. Easily approached.
Clutch and Egg Size:
Not recorded.
Breeding Season:
Likely starting January. Nests are in rock face crevices.
Related Links:
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