dcsimg

Biology

provided by Arkive
Little is known about the biology of the golden-plumed parakeet but there is evidence that breeding occurs in August in Ecuador and February in Columbia, with nest making also having being observed in May. Nests are made in wax palms (Ceroxylon species), but the birds are known to feed predominantly on conifer seeds (Podocarpus species) as well as the seeds from a few other plant species including cultivated maize and the fruit from fig trees (2). The golden-plumed parakeet is a gregarious species, chattering continuously whilst in feeding flocks (2). When in flight or perched, calls are loud and shrill (5). Golden-plumed parakeets are highly nomadic, making daily altitudinal movements as they move upland to feed and return to lower forests to roost (5). As well as this daily movement, the birds have been known to disappear from areas where they have been found for years, reappearing much later; a behaviour that may be related to food availability (2).
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Wildscreen
original
visit source
partner site
Arkive

Conservation

provided by Arkive
Fortunately, golden-plumed parakeets are known to be found in many protected areas including Los Nevados and Cueva de los Guácharos National Parks in Colombia, Podocarpus National Park in Ecuador and Río Abiseo National Park in Peru (4). In 1999, Fundación ProAves with the support of Conservation International, American Bird Conservancy and Loro Parque Fundación began an intensive conservation project, which included the creation of 25 private nature reserves (8,870 hectares) and the reforestation of 36,000 trees, including 10,000 wax palms. They have also joined forces with the Roman Catholic Church with the aim to end the use of wax palm fronds in Palm Sunday services (6). In 2007, there was a high profile campaign in Quito, Ecuador to encourage people to wave corn stalks and branches from ornamental trees instead of fronds from the wax palm, in an attempt to alert people to the plight of the golden-plumed parakeet (7). There have been national television campaigns in Colombia in order to help educate the public about the problems facing parrots and wax palms. The government, police, military, and even rebel guerrilla forces now prohibit the sale or exploitation of wax palms (6). Future priorities for the golden-plumed parakeet outlined by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) include assessing the species status in Peru, establishing its dependence on wax palms in different regions, as well as developing further protected areas and a network of protected montane forests (4). Continued measures to raise awareness and protect habitat from further degradation and fragmentation, will help to halt the population decline of this little parrot.
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Wildscreen
original
visit source
partner site
Arkive

Description

provided by Arkive
The golden-plumed parakeet is the only long-tailed parakeet found within its range (4). This species is predominantly green with a vivid, narrow, orange band, shading to yellow, that runs from the dark grey bill, below a bare white patch that surrounds the orange eye, and extends behind the eye on elongated feathers (2) (5). The abdomen is washed with yellow, which is mixed with indistinct, broad, orange bars (2). The underside of the flight-feathers are yellowish (2), and the tail is washed with red (5).
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Wildscreen
original
visit source
partner site
Arkive

Habitat

provided by Arkive
Found in temperate, cloud forest and elfin forest, usually dominated by evergreen conifers (particularly Podocarpus species). Golden-plumed parakeets are typically present at altitudes of 2,400 to 3,400 metres, but have been found as low as 1,400 metres (4).
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Wildscreen
original
visit source
partner site
Arkive

Range

provided by Arkive
The golden-plumed parakeet is found in Columbia, Peru and Ecuador (1).
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Wildscreen
original
visit source
partner site
Arkive

Status

provided by Arkive
Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1), and listed on Appendix II of CITES (3).
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Wildscreen
original
visit source
partner site
Arkive

Threats

provided by Arkive
The golden-plumed parakeet is predominantly threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation, with population numbers under rapid decline. It is believed that 90 to 93 percent of mountain forest has been lost in Columbia, although less in Peru, where the golden-plumed parakeet population appears more stable. Both wax palms and Podocarpus trees, which are essential for nesting and feeding respectively, are being lost through deforestation. Wax palms are also damaged by cattle browsing young trees, and logging in adjacent areas appears to increase their susceptibility to parasites and disease. Many protected areas are affected by burning and grazing, settlement, clearance for agriculture, logging, narcotics and gold mining. Additionally, the golden-plumed parakeet is trapped as an agricultural pest and for the pet trade, particularly in Columbia (4).
license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Wildscreen
original
visit source
partner site
Arkive

Golden-plumed parakeet

provided by wikipedia EN

The golden-plumed parakeet (Leptosittaca branickii) is a Neotropical parrot species within the family Psittacidae, belonging to the monotypic genus Leptosittaca.[2] This somewhat Aratinga-like species is found in humid temperate highland forests, especially with Podocarpus, on the east Andean slope in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It is generally local and uncommon. It is threatened by habitat loss.[1] Clearing of high-altitude forests for agricultural reasons have greatly impacted the loss of habitat for this parakeet species. Further reduction of such habitats will continue to diminish the number of golden-plumed parakeets left in South America.[3] It is the only known parakeet species that can detect ultraviolet radiation.

Description

The Golden-plumed parakeet is a large and long tailed montane parakeet that resides in the Andean cloud forests of Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador. Adult golden-plumed parakeets are mostly bright green with orangish yellow lores and small golden yellow crests behind the eyes. Their bellies are a faded yellowish color with reddish orange feathers scattered about. Golden-plumed parakeets have yellowish flight feathers on their underside as well as strongly reddish color feathers on the underside of their tail. Juvenile golden-plumed parakeets strongly resemble the adults, but their bellies are a paler green, yellow, and orange color as well as having pale pink bills.[4]

Behavior

Golden-plumed Parakeets usually abide in groups of 5-15 and can be seen in groups as large as 35-40 birds. The Golden–plumed parakeet likely has a nomadic movement pattern, leaving the nest when the chicks have fledged and returning next breeding season. Also, they are usually on exposed branches and outer crowns of Wax palms and are very active callers. Their call is a shrill sound that is present in flight and while they are perched, and it can be heard all year and more frequently during nesting areas during the breeding season.[5] During copulation, the males and females share the same perch and gradually approach each other. The male slowly mounts the female and they both raise their long tails, rub together their cloacas, and shake their tails literally for 1–2 minutes.[4]

Diet

They depend on Wax palms for shelter and are heavily dependent on Podocarpus cones for food. They spend a lot of their time foraging in the Podocarpus trees which are a conifer type tree with a more common name being the African fern tree.[6]

Conservation

Habitat degradation and fragmentation are the two main threats causing a decline in the number of Golden-plumed Parakeets in Ecuador. There are only about 7,300-20,000 Golden-plumed parakeets mature adults left today as a result of fragmentation and habitat loss. There are conversation sites scattered throughout their region to aid their struggle.[7] 

Predation

There is evidence of predation of eggs and chicks by Andean weasels from Ecuador. In the first case, the Andean weasel consumed both the one egg in the nest, as well as the adult parakeet; in the second, the weasel consumed two eggs, a two-week-old chick, and the brain of the adult parakeet. The adult’s body and skull were left beneath the nest (Williamson 2011). The occupation of nesting cavities by western honeybees, both a form of competition and predation, has also been noted as a detrimental factor in the nesting success of Golden-plumed Parakeets in Ecuador. Bees have been known to occupy both empty nests, as well as active nests with Golden-plumed Parakeet chicks (Williamson 2011).[7]

References

  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2020). "Leptosittaca branickii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22685755A175279701. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22685755A175279701.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ Thomas M. Brooks; John D. Pilgrim; Ana S. L. Rodrigues & Gustavo A. B. Da Fonseca (2005). "Conservation status and geographic distribution of avian evolutionary history". In Andy Purvis; John L. Gittleman & Thomas Brooks (eds.). Phylogeny and Conservation. Conservation Biology. Vol. 8. Cambridge University Press. pp. 267–294. ISBN 978-0-521-82502-3.
  3. ^ Jacobs, M and Walker, J. "Density estimates of birds inhabiting fragments of cloud forest in southern Ecuador". 1999
  4. ^ a b Williamson, Jessie L. (October 24, 2020). "Golden-plumed Parakeet (Leptosittaca branickii), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.goppar1.01 – via birdsoftheworld.org.
  5. ^ World Land Trust https://www.worldlandtrust.org/species/birds/golden-plumed-parakeet/?adlt=strict&toWww=1&redig=EF60E8417AA34A15B05FD92EC28CDF9F. Retrieved October 24, 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ^ "Golden-plumed Parakeet". World Land Trust.
  7. ^ a b "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species".

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN

Golden-plumed parakeet: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

The golden-plumed parakeet (Leptosittaca branickii) is a Neotropical parrot species within the family Psittacidae, belonging to the monotypic genus Leptosittaca. This somewhat Aratinga-like species is found in humid temperate highland forests, especially with Podocarpus, on the east Andean slope in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It is generally local and uncommon. It is threatened by habitat loss. Clearing of high-altitude forests for agricultural reasons have greatly impacted the loss of habitat for this parakeet species. Further reduction of such habitats will continue to diminish the number of golden-plumed parakeets left in South America. It is the only known parakeet species that can detect ultraviolet radiation.

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN