Order Psittaciformes Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Superfamily Psittacoidea Subfamily Arinae Higher classification Aratinga | |
Similar Bird, Parrot, Eupsittula, Aratinga, Cuban parakeet | ||
Jamaica 2011 olive throated parakeet mpg
The olive-throated parakeet (Eupsittula nana), also known as the olive-throated conure in aviculture, is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is found in forest and woodland in Meso- and Central America.
Contents
- Jamaica 2011 olive throated parakeet mpg
- Description
- Taxonomy and distribution
- Habitat
- Ecology
- References
Description
This is a green parakeet with a brown throat and orange eyes in adults, brown eyes in juveniles. Its flight call is a noisy screech; the species also utters harsh twittering sounds and piercing chirps. Measures 21.5–24 cm (8.5–9.4 in) and weighs 75–85 g (2.6–3.0 oz).
Taxonomy and distribution
The species occurs in two widely disjunct population, with the nominate subspecies restricted to Jamaica and the astec group (including subspecies vicinalis) occurring from north-eastern Mexico through the Yucatan Peninsula and along the Caribbean slope of Central America as far south as north-western Panama. The two are very similar and most authorities consider them to be part of a single species, but some have recommended splitting them, in which case the former becomes the Jamaican parakeet (E. nana) and the latter the Aztec parakeet (E. astec).
Habitat
The olive-throated parakeet inhabits wooded hill and mountain slopes but also makes use of cultivated areas and scrubland in humid or semi-arid areas up to moderate elevations above sea level, being most common at heights of around 1,000 m (3,300 ft).
Ecology
The parakeet feeds on the buds and fruit as well as some crops, which has resulted in it being regarded as a pest species in some areas. The species reportedly nests only in arboreal termite nests found in trees of at least medium size.
