Sierra Parakeet

Wild Sierra Parakeets
© Nick Athanas [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Flickr

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The Sierra Parakeet hen may raise six to seven young successfully in one clutch.

Academic Research

Related publications: Psilopsiagon aymara

Species Profile

Genus: Psilopsiagon | Species: aymara

Size:

20cm (7.8 in)

Weight:

45g (1.6 oz)

Subspecies including nominate:

one

Colour Adult:

Both adults grey/brown forehead, lores and area around eyes to ear coverts; grey/brown crown to nape; pale grey throat and breast; pale blue/grey upper abdomen mixed with yellow/green. Bill flesh/pink. Eye brown.

Colour Juvenile:

In general duller than adults; dull yellow/green lower breast to abdomen; shorter tail.

Call:

Calls made in flight and while feeding are high-pitched and twittering, sounding much like swallows.

Video Links:

More Information:

Avibase

Content Sources:

Wild Sierra Parakeets
© Nick Athanas [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Flickr

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

The Sierra Parakeet hen may raise six to seven young successfully in one clutch.

Academic Research

Related publications: Psilopsiagon aymara

Species Care

Captive Status:

Uncommon in aviculture.

Longevity:

Not recorded.

Housing:

Enclosure or aviary, indoors or outdoors in warm climates, minimum length 1.2m (4 ft).

Diet:

Small seed mix such as: canary, millet and smaller amounts of oats, buckwheat, safflower and a little hemp; limited sunflower seed; spray millet; seeding grasses; green leaves such as: Swiss chard, lettuce, sowthistle, dandelion, chickweed; rearing food made from: hardboiled egg, wholegrain bread and carrot, all ground to crumbly consistency; fruits such as: apple, pear, banana, orange, pomegranate, cactus fruits; complete kibble.

Enrichment:

Provide fresh, bird-safe, unsprayed flowering, fir, elder, pine or willow branches.

Nest Box Size:

Vertical box 7" x 7" x 12" (17.8cm x 17.8cm x 30.5cm)

Clutch Size:

6-10

Incubation Time:

About 28-30 days.

Fledging Age:

6-7 weeks

Hatch Weight:

Not recorded.

Peak Weight:

Not recorded.

Weaning Weight:

Not recorded.

Wild Sierra Parakeets
© Nick Athanas [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Flickr

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

The Sierra Parakeet hen may raise six to seven young successfully in one clutch.

Academic Research

Related publications: Psilopsiagon aymara

Species Wild Status

World Population:

Unknown, stable.

IUCN Red List Status:

Least Concern

CITES Listing:

Appendix II

Threat Summary:

Not globally threatened. Fairly common throughout most of its range. Has adapted to living in long-established and intensively managed farmland. Trade is light.

Range:

C Bolivia to NW Argentina; possibly N Chile.

Habitat:

Found from 1800-3000m (5904-9840 ft) in shrubby or wooded arid areas in hills and ravines, dense scrub and trees around villages and in agricultural areas.

Wild Diet:

Feeds on bush berries, fruits, herbs including Viguera and grass seeds.

Ecology and Behaviour:

Social birds. Seen in small flocks outside of breeding season. Larger groups seen at water sources. Birds will descend to the ground foraging for grass seeds and fallen fruit.

Clutch and Egg Size:

6-10 eggs

Breeding Season:

November and January in Argentina. Nest is in hole in bank or in a deserted building, or cavity in cactus. One record exists of a colony nest used by up to five pairs.

Wild Sierra Parakeets
© Nick Athanas [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Flickr

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

The Sierra Parakeet hen may raise six to seven young successfully in one clutch.

Academic Research

Related publications: Psilopsiagon aymara

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