Family Parrots (Psittacidae)
Least Concern
Aztec Parakeet (Eupsittula astec)
Taxonomy
French: Conure aztèque German: Aztekensittich Spanish: Aratinga azteca
Other common names:
Aztec Conure
Taxonomy:
Conurus astec
Souancé
, 1857,Mexico
.
Subspecies and Distribution
E. a. vicinalis
Bangs & T. E. Penard, 1919 – NE Mexico from C Tamaulipas to N Veracruz.
E. a. astec
(Souancé, 1857) – Caribbean slope from SE Mexico (C Veracruz) to W Panama (Bocas del Toro).
Descriptive notes
21·5–25 cm; 85 g. Mainly dark green parakeet, brownish and olive underparts, with prominent blue band on wing (outer secondaries and inner primaries). Bill brownish horn with... read more
Voice
No described differences from E. nana: gives a sharp, grating “krik-krik-krik-krik” or... read more
Habitat
Dense humid forest and edge, deciduous woodlands (probably main habitat), pine stands, riparian... read more
Food and feeding
Fruit of figs, Inga, Hura, Hieronyma and Bursera simaruba; some melastomes. Recorded also feeding on... read more
Breeding
Season Jan–Apr (the dry and early wet seasons) in Costa Rica; Apr–May in Belize and Guatemala. Nest in cavity in termitarium, often... read more
Movements
Generally considered to be resident, but is a winter visitor to Caye Caulker, off Belize.... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Locally common to abundant (e.g. in Belize), and the commonest parrot in some localities (e.g. Yucatán, Mexico), although it has... read more
Commonly treated as conspecific with E. nana. Proposed race melloni (from Honduras) considered inseparable from astec. Two subspecies normally recognized.