Periquito Altiturqueza
Turquoise-winged Parrotlet
Forpus spengeli
Song
Turquoise-winged Parrotlet
Appearance: The Turquoise-winged Parrotlet is a small bird, (13 cm) in length. It has a green plumage. Males have a turquoise-blue patch on their wings, which gives the species its name. Females lack the blue wing patches and are more uniformly green. They have a small, stout beak and dark eyes.
Habitat: This species is found in the dry forests and scrublands of northern Colombia. They prefer areas with sparse tree cover.
Behavior: Turquoise-winged Parrotlets feed on seeds, fruits, and insects. They are social birds, often seen in small flocks.They are known for their active and playful nature. These parrotlets communicate with a series of high-pitched calls and chirps.
Breeding: They nest in tree cavities or other secure locations, such as holes in cliffs or man-made structures. The breeding season varies but is often timed with the availability of food resources. Females lay a clutch of 3 to 6 eggs, which they incubate for about three weeks.
Conservation Status: This species is not listed as Endangered, but its population trends are closely monitored due to potential threats.
Distribution
Caribbean Lowlands: This region includes areas along the northern coast. The parrotlet is often found in the dry forest and scrub habitats of this area.
Magdalena River Valley: The species is also present in the inter-Andean valleys, particularly along the Magdalena River, which provides habitat conditions.
Sinu River Basin: This area provides the dry and semi-humid forest environments that the parrotlets prefer.
Cordillera Occidental: While found in lowland areas, the species can also be found in foothill regions of the western Andes.
Taxonomy
The Turquoise-winged Parrotlet(Forpus spengeli)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Psittaciformes
- Family: Psittacidae
- Genus: Forpus
- Species: Forpus spengeli
Vocalization
The Turquoise-winged Parrotlet are known for their vocalizations that includes a variety of sounds such as chirps, squawks, and whistles that are used for communication between individuals, establishing territory, and social interactions within flocks.
Parrotlets are quite vocal, and their calls can vary in pitch and volume.They are not known for mimicking human speech as well as some larger parrot species, they can still learn to imitate certain sounds and words if trained. In the wild, their vocalizations play a crucial role in maintaining social bonds and coordinating activities like foraging and alerting others to potential threats.
