Psittacara frontatus
The Cordilleran Parakeet, *Psittacara frontatus*, is a vibrant and highly social member of the true parrot family (Psittacidae), recognized by its predominantly emerald-green plumage. Measuring approximately 23-26 cm (9-10 inches) in length and weighing 80-100 grams, its most distinctive field mark is a bright red band across its forehead, extending slightly above and behind the eye, coupled with a prominent red patch at the bend of the wing (carpal joint). Underparts are a yellowish-green, c...
Primarily found in arid and semi-arid scrubland, dry inter-Andean valleys, open woodlands, and increasingly, in urban parks and gardens. They inhabit elevations ranging from sea level up to approximately 3000 meters in their native range.
Their diet consists mainly of seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, and flowers, particularly flower buds, gleaned acrobatically from trees and shrubs. Occasionally, they will consume small insects.
Cordilleran Parakeets are diurnal birds, active from dawn to dusk, often commencing their day with noisy flights from communal roosts to foraging grounds. Outside the breeding season, they gather in large, boisterous flocks that can number in the hundreds, roosting communally in tall trees or on ...
The native range of the Cordilleran Parakeet encompasses the inter-Andean valleys and arid slopes of southern Peru, western Bolivia, northwestern Argentina, and northern Chile. Within this vast South American distribution, they inhabit elevations ranging from near sea level up to approximately 3,...
Least Concern
- The name "Cordilleran" directly refers to its native habitat within the Andes mountain range (Cordillera). - They are exceptionally adaptable, with introduced populations flourishing in bustling urban centers across different continents. - Their robust, hooked beaks are powerful tools, perfectl...