Orange-fronted Parakeet

The name "Orange-fronted Parakeet" is also used for Malherbe's Parakeet, a critically endangered parakeet from New Zealand.

Orange-fronted Parakeet
In a tree feeding on seeds, Gulf of Papagayo, Costa Rica
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittacidae
Genus:	Aratinga
Species:	A. canicularis
Binomial name
Aratinga canicularis (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Orange-fronted Parakeet or Orange-fronted Conure (Aratinga canicularis), also known as the Half-moon Conure, is a medium-sized parrot which is a resident from western Mexico to Costa Rica.

Taxonomy

There are three subspecies:^[1]

• Aratinga canicularis canicularis (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Aratinga canicularis clarae (R. T. Moore, 1937)
• Aratinga canicularis eburnirostrum (Lesson, 1842)

Habitat and range

It is found in lowlands and foothills on the Pacific side of the central mountain ranges in forest canopy and edges, and more open woodland, including savanna and second growth.

Description

Orange-fronted Parakeets are 22.5 cm long and weigh 80 g. The adult is mainly green, paler and yellower below and with an olive tone to the breast. The wings have blue outer primaries and yellow linings, and the pointed tail is tipped with blue. The head is distinctive, with a blue crown, orange forehead, bare yellow eye-ring, yellow iris and white bill. Young birds are similar to the adults, but with much less orange on the forehead.

Behaviour

The Orange-fronted Parakeet feeds in flocks which can reach 100 birds outside the breeding season, taking various seeds, flowers and fruits including figs. Its flight call is a raucous can-can-can, and when perched it has a reedy zeeweet.

Breeding

The 3-5 white eggs are laid in an unlined nest cavity, usually self-excavated in an arboreal termite nest of the termite species Nasutitermes nigriceps,^[2] but sometimes in an old woodpecker hole or natural cavity.

Aviculture

The population has decreased in many areas due to persecution for the pet trade.

Gallery

• 

  Pet parrot

• 

  Pet in a cage in Mexico

• 

  Pet in garden

References

1. ^ "Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Psittaciformes (Version 9.004)". www.zoonomen.net. 2008-07-05. http://www.zoonomen.net/avtax/psit.html. 
2. ^ Sanchez-Martinez, Tania; Katherine Renton (2009). "Availability and selection of arboreal termitaria as nest-sites by Orange-fronted Parakeets Aratinga canicularis in conserved and modified landscapes in Mexico". Ibis 151 (2): 311–320. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.2009.00911.x. 

• Stiles and Skutch, A guide to the birds of Costa Rica ISBN 0-8014-9600-4
• BirdLife International (2008). Aratinga canicularis. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 17 November 2008. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is near threatened.

External links

• "Orange-fronted Parakeet - BirdLife Species Factsheet". BirdLife International (2008). http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=1577&m=0. Retrieved 3 January 2009.