Psittacara strenuus
The Pacific Parakeet (*Psittacara strenuus*) is a vibrant, medium-sized parrot, typically measuring 30-34 cm (12-13.5 inches) in length, characterized by its striking emerald green plumage. Its most distinctive field marks include a pale whitish or gray periocular ring around its eye, a horn-colored bill, and often scattered red feathers on the head, neck, and sometimes the wing-bend, though these red markings can vary greatly or be absent. Taxonomically, it belongs to the genus *Psittacara*,...
Primarily inhabiting dry to semi-humid deciduous forests, woodlands, and forest edges, this parakeet also thrives in cultivated areas, urban parks, and secondary growth from sea level up to approximately 1,500 meters.
Their diet primarily consists of a variety of seeds (often unripe), fruits, flowers, flower buds, and berries, supplemented occasionally by nectar and small insects. They forage predominantly in the canopy and mid-story of trees and shrubs.
Pacific Parakeets are highly diurnal and gregarious, often forming large, noisy communal roosts that can number in the hundreds or even thousands outside the breeding season. They forage actively in flocks, clambering through trees and shrubs to glean fruits, seeds, and flowers. During the breedi...
The native range of the Pacific Parakeet spans the Pacific slope of Central America, extending from extreme southeastern Honduras, through Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and into western Panama, specifically in the provinces of Chiriquà and Veraguas. Within this native distribution, the species is a y...
Least Concern
- Despite a relatively restricted native range in Central America, Pacific Parakeets have established numerous thriving feral populations in urban areas worldwide, including the United States, due to the pet trade. - Its specific epithet 'strenuus' is Latin for 'strenuous' or 'vigorous,' likely r...