Red-masked Parakeet

Psittacara erythrogenys

Content

33 cm.. length between 165 and 200 g.. weight.

The Red-masked Parakeet (Psittacara erythrogenys) It is very similar to birds Scarlet-fronted Parakeet and to the Mitred Parakeet, but smaller and with more red area in the face, extending continuously up to the throat and nape.

Has the forecrown, crown, lores, the cheeks and the area around the eyes, bright red, generally forming a complete red mask to join to the chin (Sometimes the mask extends up to the throat). Since the nape up to the uppertail-coverts dark green, sometimes with scattered red feathers. The upperwing-coverts children with some feathers of red and the bend of wing red; remaining upperwing-coverts dark green, with dye Emerald to them vane outer the primary. The flight feather Brown Gold below; underwing-coverts minors, bright red, the greater coverts yellowish brown. The underparts brighter yellowish green, sometimes with mottled red and almost always with the the thighs red. Upper, the tail dark green; by below grayish brown.

The bill color pale horn; bare periophthalmic off-white; irises yellow; legs distant.

Both sexes similar.

The immature with the head and the thighs green.

• Sound of the Red-masked Parakeet.

Video – "Red-masked Parakeet" (Psittacara erythrogenys) Telegraph Hill Parrots January 30, 2008 (HD) Watch this video on YouTube.

The Red-masked Parakeet It occupies a wide range of vegetation types, from arid zones to rainforests, Since the sea level to altitudes 2.500 m, Although its usual habitat is below of the 1.000 m, in humid forests, deciduous forests, areas of dry thorny scrub and arid with cactus; They also live in degraded forest, areas cultivated with scattered trees, and around the urban areas. They tend to prefer arid and semi-arid habitats, not avoiding moist forest habitats.

Outside the breeding season, is a bird gregarious; in general, observed in pairs or in groups of up to 12 individuals, forming groups of up to 200 birds in the places where their communal roosts are. Formerly registered flocks of thousands of birds in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Often associated in mixed flocks with the Grey-cheeked Parakeet (Brotogeris pyrrhoptera) and also observed in mixed flocks with the Bronze winged Parrot (Pionus chalcopterus).

Nests in holes of mature trees, for example of Ceiba trichistandra or Cochlospermun vitifolium, There are also records of nests in termite mounds, with a report in a nest on a cliff. The breeding season in the southwest of Ecuador recorded during the rainy season (January-March). The laying, between 2 and 4 eggs. The female the incubated eggs during 23 to 24 days. The pups they are born very little developed, blind and naked. They are fed with food previously digested by their mothers.

Few details exist about food preferences of the Red-masked Parakeet, Although seasonal movements from the more arid areas are probably related to food supply.

Reported foods include fruits of Hieronyma, Anacardiaceae, Oleaceae and Boraginaceae, as well as flowers of Erythrina.

Size of the area of distribution (reproduction / resident): 151.000 km2

The Red-masked Parakeet is distributed to the West of Ecuador and the Northwest corner of Peru.

In Ecuador, the species has been recorded from Manabi near south of the equator, through Pichincha, The rivers, Guayas, Azuay, Gold and Loja, until Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque and Cajamarca, in the North of Peru and the region of Chachapoyas, amazon (6° 10’S).

In Ecuador, the distribution of the Red-masked Parakeet is limited to the lowlands of the peaceful, Western slope of the Andes and valleys, Although it is apparently absent from the eastern slope; similar pattern in the Peru most Eastern records in the basin of the amazon (Valley of the Utcubamba River) to 77° 54’W.

The seasonal movements to and from the more arid areas, otherwise, residents.

Usually considered to be common (described as the most common parrot in various locations in the province of Gold, Ecuador), but numbers fluctuate widely in some locations due to irregular seasonal movements. In some areas there has been a very drastic decrease of copies, reflecting the combined effects of the loss of habitat and your capture for the trade in live birds, for example, in Guayas, Ecuador.

There are at least eight protected areas, of which seven are in Ecuador.

There are leaks in Spain; so also in EE. UU., with breeding populations in the California cities of San Diego, Los Angeles, San Gabriel, Sunnyvale and San Francisco, You can see them eating fruits of cultivated tropical plants, and nesting in Palm trees.

Maintained in captivity at the local level (where is the most common Parrot kept in captivity) and commercialized in large quantities at the international level, especially since Peru.

State of conservation ⓘ
Near Threatened ⓘ (UICN)ⓘ

• Red List category of the UICN current: Near-threatened

• Population trend: Decreasing

The size of the population This species has not been estimated officially, but, in the absence of sufficient data, It is suspected that it may be in around the 10.000 specimens, more or less equivalent to 6.700 mature individuals.

The population of the species is suspected that it may be subjected to a moderately rapid decrease, due to its capture for him pet trade together with the loss of habitat and fragmentation. Further research is required.

Conservation Actions Underway:

• Appendix II of CITES.

Conservation Actions Proposed:

• Carry out surveys to get an estimate of the population.
• The current threat of trade research.
• Enforcing trade restrictions.
• Census of population and monitoring.
• Monitor the rates of loss and fragmentation of habitat.
• Study its ability to persist in altered and fragmented habitats.

Shy and distrustful. Little common in captivity outside its area of distribution.

They may live until 25 years, Although the average tends to be between 10 and 15 years.

Their diet: fruit as, Apple, pear, orange, bananas, grenades, Kiwi, papaya, cactus fruits, they form a 30 percent of the diet. Vegetables, such as: Carrot, celery, green beans and peas in the pod, sweet corn on the cob, green leavess, such as: chard, lettuce , Kale, healer, Dandelion, Aviary grass, spray millet, mixture of small seeds, such as: Millet and small amounts of oats, buckwheat, safflower and hemp.

This species is found threatened from the wild bird trade local in Peru and Ecuador, where are rates of mortality due to mismanagement and stress high.

Never buy these birds in the illegal trade, Since these tend to come from its natural environment and it must be remembered that the Red-masked Parakeet is one endangered species.

– Red-masked Parakeet, Red Masked Conure, Red masked Parakeet, Red-headed Conure, Red-headed Parakeet, Red-masked Conure (English).
– Conure à tête rouge, Conure à tête cerise, Conure à tête écarlate, Perriche à tête rouge, Perruche à tête rouge (French).
– Guayaquilsittich (German).
– Periquito-de-cabeça-vermelha (Portuguese).
– Aratinga de Guayaquil, Loro de cara roja, Periquito de Cabeza Roja, Perico Cara Roja (español).
– Loro de cara roja (Chile).
– Cotorra de Cabeza Roja (Peru).
– Perico caretirrojo (Ecuador).

– Order: Psittaciformes
– Family: Psittacidae
– Genus: Psittacara
– Scientific name: Psittacara erythrogenys
– Citation: (Lesson, 1844)
– Protonimo: Psittacara (psittacus) Erythrogenys

Sources:

– Avibase
– Parrots of the World – Forshaw Joseph M
– Parrots A Guide to the Parrots of the World – Tony Juniper & Mike Parr
– Birdlife
– Feather wind

– Photos:

(1) – A feral Red-masked Parakeet (also known as the Red-masked Conure and Cherry-headed Conure) in San Francisco, USA By Ingrid Taylar [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(2) – Red-masked parakeet, Aratinga erythrogenys. Two birds in a tree in San Francisco, California By Jef Poskanzer (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(3) – Red-masked Parakeet (Psittacara erythrogenys) at the Presidio, San Francisco, California By Frank Schulenburg (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(4) – Red-masked parakeet (Aratinga erythrogenys). A juvenile parrot which is mostly green and just starting to get some red feathers on its head By Eliya Selhub (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(5) – Red-masked Parakeet preening on a branch in San Francisco, USA By Ingrid Taylar from San Francisco Bay Area – California, USA [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(6) – Red-masked Conure at Birds of Eden, South Africa By Dick Daniels (http://carolinabirds.org /) (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons
(7) – A feral Red-masked Parakeet (also known as the Red-masked Conure and Cherry-headed Conure) in San Francisco, USA By Ingrid Taylar [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(8) – Two feral Red-masked Parakeets in San Francisco, USA By Ingrid Taylar from San Francisco Bay Area – California, USA (Wild in SFUploaded by Snowmanradio) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(9) – Several Red-masked Parakeets eating a discarded apple in San Francisco, USA By Ingrid Taylar from San Francisco Bay Area – California, USA (A Big Find for ParrotsUploaded by Snowmanradio) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

– Sounds: (Xeno-canto)