Orange-fronted Parakeet Eupsittula canicularis Scientific name definitions

The most numerous parrot on the Pacific Slope of Central America, Orange-fronted Parakeet is found from western Mexico south to Costa Rica. Primarily colored a dull green, Orange-fronted Parakeet has an orange-peach forehead and lores, dull blue mid-crown, olive-brown throat and breast, yellow green belly and blue flight feathers. This parakeet inhabits a variety of habitats including forest edge, deciduous woodland, Pacific swamp forest, savanna, arid thorn scrub and even cow pastures and urban areas. This bird feeds primarily on fruits and flowers, but outside of the breeding season, large flocks have been known to cause damage to maize and ripening bananas. Orange-fronted Parakeet nests primarily in self excavated cavities in arboreal termitariums.

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Introduced (nominate) to Puerto Rico. (1 Dickinson, E. C., and J. V. Remsen, Editors (2013). The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World. Fourth edition. Volume 1. Aves Press, Eastbourne, UK. Close )

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SUBSPECIES

Eupsittula canicularis clarae Scientific name definitions

Distribution

W Mexico from Sinaloa and W Durango to C Michoacán.

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SUBSPECIES

Eupsittula canicularis eburnirostrum Scientific name definitions

Distribution

SW Mexico from E Michoacán to Oaxaca.

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SUBSPECIES

Eupsittula canicularis canicularis Scientific name definitions

Distribution

Pacific coast and foothills from S Mexico (Chiapas) to Honduras and NW Costa Rica.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Flight calls range from high-pitched shrill “creeh creeh” to lower-pitched harsh grating screeches. When perched, similar calls interspersed with chattering notes.

Jan–May in Mexico and El Salvador; dry season in Costa Rica. Nest in cavity in arboreal termitarium of Nasutitermes nigriceps, usually excavated by the birds themselves, sometimes in old woodpecker hole or natural fissure. Eggs 3–5, size (in captivity) 27·5 mm × 20·9 mm (2 Harrison, C. J. O., and D. T. Holyoak (1970). Apparently undescribed parrot eggs in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History). Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 90(2):42–46. Close ); incubation, by female only, lasts c. 30 days; nestling period about 6 weeks.