Red-fronted Parrotlet

Touit costaricensis

17,5 cm.. length.

The Red-fronted Parrotlet (Touit costaricensis) has the forecrown, anteriorly of crown, lores and stripe under the eyes, red; sides neck, cheeks and upperparts, green with the back of the crown and nape slightly paler and yellower. Inner wing-coverts green; exterior and median coverts and wing leading edge, red; primary coverts black.

Primaries and outer secondaries, black with green margin to outerweb of the primaries. Inner underwing-coverts, yellow, the outer, red. Feathers on base of the beak, on chin and throat, brighter yellowish green; the chest, the belly and undertail-coverts, green tinted yellowish. The tail greenish yellow with a black tip (except the outermost feathers) and dark green subterminally. Bill pale yellow; cere and bare periophthalmic, grey; irises grey; legs slaty.

The female It has less red on the upperwing-coverts, and perhaps more yellow in the underwing-coverts; probably, on average, are smaller than males. The immature It has little or no red on the head.

• Sound of the Red-fronted Parrotlet.

Note:

The Red-fronted Parrotlet It has sometimes been treated as conspecific with the Blue-fronted Parrotlet (Touit dilectissimus) North of South America and Panama. Although these taxa are clearly allied and share a recent common ancestor, most authors now treat them as separate on the basis of their clear and consistent plumage differences. The structural divergence can also exist in the Red-fronted Parrotlet longer seems to show the uppertail-coverts (extending almost to the end of the tail) its counterpart Southern, While (although the sample is small) it suggests a sexual dimorphism by the length of the wings and tail on Red-fronted Parrotlet but not in Blue-fronted Parrotlet.

Generally observed in the canopy moist forests at mid-altitudes. It moves towards the thicket, on forest edges, flying over the clear, sometimes in the lowlands (sometimes at sea level, especially in southeast Costa Rica), where perhaps it is a seasonal visitor. Tolerates some habitat alterations.

Observed in association with Red-headed Barbet (Eubucco bourcierii) and Blue-and-gold Tanager (Bangsia arcaei), both species associated in cool wet forests in the upper tropics and subtropics.

Observed to 3.000 meters in Costa Rica in the early dry season and reported regularly at altitudes 500-1.000 m during the wet season. Usually in pairs or small flocks family.

The family size usually between 4-5 birds, suggests the clutch usual 2-3 eggs. probably plays during the season, dry.

They feed on fruits trees and epiphytes, such as Cavendishia and Clusia, but probably also include flowers and seeds.

Size of its range (breeding/resident): 10.000 km2

The few records Red-fronted Parrotlet existing in Costa Rica come, mainly, the highlands of central-south Caribbean side, where its range seems to extend to the south, from Monteverde, Turrialba volcano and Lemon.

Although there are no records in much of the east of Costa Rica, its existence can be continuous along the Cordillera de Talamanca (perhaps only in the Caribbean side) to western Panama. The handful of panamanian specimens and records from observations, They are mainly from the western highlands to a report from the east, about the Cocle Province.

It is obviously a kind rare and presumably in decline due to continued deforestation (at least in the lowlands) in a limited range.

• Current category of the Red List of the UICN: Vulnerable.
• Population trend: Decreasing.

Population size : 2500-9999 specimens.

Rationale for the Red List category

This species is classified as Vulnerable because the clearing and forest fragmentation at middle elevations, mainly in the Central Volcanic Range and in the Sierra de Tilarán of Costa Rica, It is likely to be causing significant slopes in its small range and (presumably) in population.

Justification of the population

It is estimated that the breeding population of the Important Bird Areas of Costa Rica is 1.000 to 4.000 mature individuals (J. And others Craido 2007, J. Sánchez et al., In 2007), so it is believed that the total population may be within the range of 2.500-9.999 mature individuals. This is equivalent to 3.750-14.999 individuals in total, rounded here to 3.500-15.000 individuals.

Justification of trend

It is suspected that the population species is decreasing at a moderate rate, in line with continued clearing of its forest habitat in the northern part of its range.

No reports are known captive birds.

– Red-fronted Parrotlet, Red fronted Parrotlet (English).
– Toui du Costa Rica (French).
– Costa-Rica-Papagei (German).
– Red-fronted Parrotlet (Portuguese).
– Cotorrita Costarricense, Lorito de Pecho Rojo, Periquito alirrojo (español).

– Order: Psittaciformes
– Family: Psittacidae
– Genus: Touit
– Scientific name: Touit costaricensis
– Citation: (Cory, 1913)
– Protonimo: Urochroma costaricensis

“Red-fronted Parrotlet” (Touit costaricensis)

Sources:

– Sounds: