Mitred Parakeet Psittacara mitratus Scientific name definitions

Mitred Parakeet is a widespread and familiar parakeet of the central Andes, where it is common and widespread from central Peru south to northwestern Argentina; there also is a population, perhaps isolated, in northern Peru. In the northern portion of its range, this species primarily occurs at the borders of humid montane forest, and in the more humid portions of intermontane valley; in these regions it is replaced in drier mountain valleys by Scarlet-fronted Parakeet (Aratinga wagleri). Farther south, where Scarlet-fronted Parakeet does not occur, Mitred Parakeet is more widespread in these drier montane forests. Mitred Parakeet is a large Psittacara, and is mostly green with a variable amount of red on the head and neck, and on the tibial feathers. It is very similar in appearance to the Peruvian subspecies (frontata and minor) of Scarlet-fronted Parakeet, but those populations of Scarlet-fronted usually have red along the bend of the wing, whereas the wings of Mitred are entirely green. There is a great deal of variation in the extent of the red on the head of Mitred Parakeet. This variation is in part related to age (younger birds having less red), but also led to suggestions that Mitred Parakeet in fact is a complex of two or three species; further research is needed to better understand the basis of this variation and to clarify the taxonomic status of the different populations of Mitred Parakeet.

31–38 cm; 219–275 g. Similar to <em>P. frontatus</em> , but forehead purplish and red extending variably  , often in flecks, onto cheeks  and ear-coverts, but bend of wing only sometimes has red. Juvenile has reduced or no red. Race chlorogenys has red frontal band extending to eye and lores, ring of small red feathers around eye, but narrow, not closed and generally clearly not continuous above eye, red area below eye much reduced and in older birds isolated red feathers to cheeks, crown often has blue tinge, and thighs marked with red.

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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.

Montane evergreen and deciduous woodland edge, cloud forest patches, secondary forest, semi-humid and humid montane scrub in arid montane country, 1000–3400 m, with possible sighting in Peru at 4000 m; race chlorogenys found at 1200–2900 m (4 Arndt, T. (2006). A revision of the Aratinga mitrata complex, with the description of one new species, two new subspecies and species-level status of Aratinga alticola. Journal of Ornithology. 147(1): 73–86. Close ).

Little information. Ripening berries and maize (Zea mays) recorded. Important food items for the naturalized population in California include fruits of Platanus spp. and Myoporus laetum, and flowers of Eucalyptus (5 Garrett, K. L., K. T. Mabb, C. T. Collins, and L. M. Kares (1997). Food items of naturalized parrots in southern California. Western Birds 28:196–201. Close ).

Squeaky notes and screeches, with a distinctive nasal and slightly plaintive quality. Vocal, especially in flight, typically maintaining a continuous loud screeching chatter.

Dec in Argentina. Nest in hollow of tree, also in cliffs. Eggs 2–3.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES II. Generally common and locally abundant, despite strong pressure on cloudforest habitat in transitional zone between densely populated rainshadow valleys and humid Andean slopes in Peru. Range in Argentina recently extended to province of Santiago del Estero (Sierra de Guasayán) (6 Coria, O.R. and Heredia, J. (2012). Notas sobre la avifauna de la Sierra de Guasayán, provincia de Santiago del Estero, Argentina. Nuestras Aves. 57: 47–49. Close ). Known from several protected areas including Calilegua National Park (Argentina) (7 Politi, N. and Rivera, L.O. (2005). Abundance and distribution of parrots along the elevational gradient of Calilegua National Park, Argentina. Ornitología Neotropical. 16(1): 43–52. Close ). Before mid-1984 virtually all birds in international trade were from Bolivia, which exported 35,100 in the years 1981–1984. In period 1985–1990 no fewer than 108,033 birds exported from Argentina, judged a serious threat that was curbed in 1993 when no quota was authorized. National trade may also be important: 550 birds were recorded passing through Los Pozos pet market, Santa Cruz, Bolivia , during a one-year period in 2004–2005 (8 Herrera, M., and A. B. Hennessey (2007). Quantifying the illegal parrot trade in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, with emphasis on threatened species. Bird Conservation International 17(4): 295–300. Close ). Naturalized in California, where 680 birds estimated in Los Angeles region in 1997 (9 Garrett, K. L. (1997). Population status and distribution of naturalized parrots in southern California. Western Birds 28(4):181–195. Close ).