Mountain parakeet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain parakeet |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Psilopsiagon
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| Species: |
aurifrons
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| Synonyms | |
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Bolborhynchus aurifrons (Lesson, 1830) |
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The mountain parakeet is a small, colorful bird. It's also called the golden-fronted parakeet. This type of parrot lives in the high Puna grassland areas of South America. It likes places with lots of bushes and shrubs. There are four slightly different kinds, or subspecies, of mountain parakeets.
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Different Kinds of Mountain Parakeets
There are four main types, or subspecies, of the mountain parakeet. Each one lives in a specific area:
- P. a. aurifrons: Found along the coast and western side of the Andes mountains in central Peru.
- P. a. margaritae: Lives on the Andean slopes of southern Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile, and northwestern Argentina.
- P. a. robertsi: Found in the Marañón Valley in north-central Peru.
- P. a. rubrirostris: Lives on the Andean slopes of northwestern Argentina (between Catamarca and Córdoba) and southern Chile.
What Do They Look Like?
This small parrot is about 18 centimeters (7 inches) long. It weighs around 45 grams (1.6 ounces), which is about the same as a golf ball.
Male and Female Parakeets
The male of the most common type, P. a. aurifrons, has a green head, back, and tail. Its main wing feathers are green with blue edges. Its face, throat, and chest are yellow, fading to a yellowish-green on its belly. Its eyes are brown, and its beak is horn-colored. The female looks similar but has a yellow forehead. Young parakeets look like the female but have shorter tails.
Differences in Other Subspecies
- Both male and female P. a. margaritae look like the female P. a. aurifrons. But they are larger with shorter tails. The female's beak is gray.
- P. a. rubrirostris is similar in color to P. a. margaritae. However, its head, chest, and belly are a darker green with a hint of blue. The male's beak is pinkish-buff, and the female's is gray.
- Male and female P. a. robertsi look like P. a. aurifrons. But their belly is a darker green, and their chin and throat are a brighter yellow.
Where Do They Live?
Mountain parakeets live in the Andes mountains. They can be found at very high altitudes, from 1,000 to 4,500 meters (about 3,300 to 14,800 feet) above sea level. Their home range includes Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina.
They usually live near rivers where there is lots of plant life. They also like bushy slopes, scrubland, and grassy areas with cacti. You might even spot them in parks and gardens in towns. The four different subspecies live in their own separate areas. These birds do not migrate far. They just move to higher places in summer and lower places in winter.
Life and Habits
The mountain parakeet is a friendly bird that likes to be with others. It looks for food on the ground and in bushes. They eat buds, berries, and seeds from plants like Fabiana densa, Lepidophyllum, and Adesmia.
Reproduction
Mountain parakeets lay eggs at different times of the year, depending on where they live. A female usually lays three to six eggs. They make their nests in holes or cracks. These nests can be in rocky cliffs, river banks, or other rocky spots.
Conservation Status
The mountain parakeet lives across a very large area. It is quite common in many parts of its habitat. Because of this, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) says it is of "least concern". This means it is not currently in danger of disappearing.
