Pyrrhura orcesi
The El Oro Parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi) is a striking and critically endangered psittacid, primarily distinguished by its vibrant green plumage that seamlessly blends with the lush cloud forests it inhabits. Averaging 20-22 cm (8-8.5 inches) in length and weighing approximately 55-65 grams, this small parakeet possesses several key identification features: bright red underwing coverts, visible in flight, a pale, often conspicuous, periocular ring, and a maroon wash on the undertail coverts. Its...
This parakeet is strictly an inhabitant of humid evergreen foothill cloud forests and adjacent secondary growth, typically found at elevations between 600 and 1,500 meters (2,000-4,900 feet) above sea level.
Their diet primarily consists of various fruits, seeds, flowers, and nectar sourced from a diverse array of native trees and epiphytes within their cloud forest habitat, often foraging high in the canopy.
El Oro Parakeets are highly social and diurnal, typically observed in pairs or small family groups of up to 10-15 individuals, though larger roosting flocks may gather. They forage actively in the forest canopy and subcanopy, exhibiting remarkable agility as they climb and hang upside down to acc...
The El Oro Parakeet possesses an exceptionally restricted global distribution, confined exclusively to a small area of humid foothill cloud forests on the western slopes of the Andes in southwestern Ecuador. Its known range is primarily concentrated within El Oro Province, with limited occurrence...
Critically Endangered
- The El Oro Parakeet was only formally described by science in 1980, making it a relatively recent discovery for ornithologists. - Its common name directly refers to El Oro Province in southwestern Ecuador, where it was first found and where much of its remaining habitat lies. - This species is ...