Psittacara mitratus
The Mitred Parakeet (*Psittacara mitratus*), a vibrant member of the parrot family Psittacidae, is a strikingly green, medium-sized conure measuring approximately 34-38 cm (13-15 inches) in length with a wingspan around 45-50 cm and weighing 170-210g. Its most distinctive feature, and the origin of its name, is a prominent blaze of red feathers on its forehead, extending over the crown and sometimes around the eyes, reminiscent of a bishop's mitre. This bold coloration contrasts sharply with ...
Native to high-altitude Andean valleys and cloud forests, Mitred Parakeets typically inhabit semi-deciduous forests, forest edges, and agricultural areas from 1,000 to 3,000 meters (3,300-9,800 ft) elevation, readily adapting to urban and suburban parks, gardens, and orchards in introduced regions.
Primarily frugivorous and granivorous, Mitred Parakeets feed on a diverse array of fruits, seeds, nuts, berries, blossoms, and occasionally cultivated crops, foraging actively in tree canopies and on the ground.
Mitred Parakeets are highly social and diurnal, often found in large, noisy flocks that can number in the hundreds, especially outside the breeding season, congregating at communal roosts in tall trees or urban structures. Their foraging strategy involves acrobatic maneuvering through tree canopi...
The native range of the Mitred Parakeet extends through the Andean regions of western South America, from central Peru southwards through Bolivia and into northwestern Argentina. Within this vast area, they primarily inhabit high-altitude valleys, cloud forests, and semi-deciduous woodlands, typi...
Least Concern
- Mitred Parakeets can live for 20-30 years in captivity, sometimes even longer, a common longevity among larger parrot species. - Despite their loud and often raucous calls, individuals sometimes learn to mimic human speech in captivity, though it's not a common trait in the wild. - Feral popula...