Red-fronted Parrotlet
Also known as:
Red-winged Parrotlet, Costa Rican Parrotlet
Also known as:
Red-winged Parrotlet, Costa Rican Parrotlet
DID YOU KNOW?
The Touit genus of parrotlets nests in arboreal termitaria, or termite nests in trees.
Size:
17 cm (6.6 in)
Weight:
65 g (2.3 oz)
Subspecies including nominate:
one
Colour Adult:
Male-mainly green in colour; red forehead, crown, lores and band below eye; blue line below red line under eye; green/yellow chin and throat; red bend of wing, lesser, outer median and inner primary coverts; red forewing; yellow underwing coverts; black central tail feathers with green towards bases; lateral tail feathers green/yellow-tipped with black. Beak olive/yellow with grey at base. Eye ring bare and grey. Eye brown/yellow. Female-red on lesser and outer median wing coverts minimal or absent; black inner primary coverts.
Colour Juvenile:
As in adult female but with red forecrown mixed with green.
Call:
Calls are like those of the Blue-fronted Parrotlet T. dillectissima: in flight a soft, high-pitched series of notes repeated several times between pauses. When taking flight calls more loudly.
More Information:
Content Sources:
CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006. 2010 edition
Captive Status:
Not seen in captivity.
Longevity:
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Housing:
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Diet:
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Enrichment:
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Nest Box Size:
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Clutch Size:
2-3
Fledging Age:
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Hatch Weight:
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Peak Weight:
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Weaning Weight:
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World Population:
3000-12,000 mature individuals, decreasing.
IUCN Red List Status:
Near Threatened
CITES Listing:
Appendix II
Threat Summary:
A BirdLife “restricted-range” species. Found in Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Costa Rica. Uncommon to rare, although may be overlooked in general. Not seen in trade. The species appears to be able to tolerate some habitat degradation, therefore, population declines caused by this may be low.
Range:
Costa Rica, south from Caribbean slope of Cordillera Central at Puerto Limon and Volcan Turrialba and W Panama, in Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, and W Cocle.
Habitat:
Found from 500-1000 m (1640-3280 ft), seasonally up to 3000 m (9840 ft) in cool, wet forest, forest edge and occasionally over clearings.
Wild Diet:
Feeds on fruits from trees and epiphytes, including melastomes, and ericads like Cavendishia and Clusia.
Ecology and Behaviour:
Seen generally in pairs or small family flocks. Keeps to middle and upper storeys of canopy. Roosts communally in larger groups, then flies to feeding areas at dawn. Wary and difficult to approach.
Clutch and Egg Size:
2-3 eggs
Breeding Season:
Probably breeds during the dry season.
Related Links:
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