Periquito Colirrojo
Huila Parakeet (subsp.)
Pyrrhura (melanurus) chapmani
Song
Huila Parakeet (subsp.)
Appearance: The Huila Parakeet is a medium-sized parrot. It has a green plumage with a rusty or reddish-brown face and crown. The wings may have blue and red markings on the undersides. It has a strong, curved beak, and its eyes are dark.
Habitat: This subspecies is endemic to Colombia, specifically in the southern Andean region. It inhabits montane cloud forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is often found at elevations ranging from 1600 to 2800 m above sea level.
Behavior: The Huila Parakeet is often seen in small flocks, though it may also be observed in pairs, especially during the breeding season. Its diet consists mainly of fruits, seeds, and possibly flowers and nectar. It is known to forage in the forest canopy. Like many parrots, it is vocal and uses a range of calls for communication.
Breeding: The exact breeding season can vary, but it coincides with periods of food abundance: Nests are built in tree cavities. The female is responsible for incubating the eggs, while both parents participate in feeding the chicks once they hatch. The clutch size is not well-documented but is assumed to be similar to other parrot species consisting of a few eggs.
Conservation Status: This subspecies of the Huila Parakeet is not listed as a separate species on the IUCN Red List, but its conservation status can be inferred from the status of the Rusty-faced Parrot, which is considered Vulnerable.
Distribution
The Huila Parakeet (subsp.) is found in the southern region of the department of Huila, and in the intersection of the departments Huila, Caquetá, Cauca, Putumayo.
Taxonomy
The Huila Parakeet (subsp.) (Pyrrhura (melanurus) chapmani)
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves (Birds)
- Order: Psittaciformes
- Family: Psittacidae
- Genus: Pyrrhura
- Species: Pyrrhura melanurus
- Subspecie: chapmani
Vocalization
The vocalizations of the Huila Parakeet subspecies are characterized by a vairiety of calls and sounds:
Contact Calls: These are often used to maintain communication between individuals, especially when foraging or flying in groups. The calls can be sharp, high-pitched, and repetitive.
Alarm Calls: These are louder and more urgent, serving as warnings to other members of the group about potential threats or predators.
Social Calls: Used during interactions within flocks, these calls can vary widely and are often more complex, serving to establish social bonds and hierarchies.
Mimicry: Like many parrots, they may also mimic sounds from their environment, although this is more commonly observed in captivity.
Purpose
Communication: Essential for maintaining group cohesion, coordinating movements, and foraging activities.
Mating and Courtship: Vocalizations play a role in attracting mates and establishing pair bonds.
Territoriality: Calls can be used to defend territory from intruders or competing flocks.
Alarm and Defense: Alerting others to danger is a critical survival mechanism, helping to protect the flock from predators.
Understanding these vocalizations is important for conservation efforts, as it helps researchers monitor populations and behaviors in their natural habitat. This subspecies like many other species, faces threats from habitat loss and fragmentation, making such studies crucial for their preservation.
