Blue-crowned Parakeet

The Blue-crowned Parakeet, also known as the Blue-crowned Conure or Sharp-tailed Conure, is a small, vibrant Neotropical parrot. It boasts a predominantly green plumage with a striking blue head and a pale beak, presenting a rather splendid sight.

Identification Tips

Adults measure approximately 37 cm in length and weigh between 140 and 190 grams. They exhibit a dull blue coloring on the forehead, crown, cheeks, and ears, with variations among subspecies. The area around each eye is encircled by white featherless skin, which is bright orange-yellow in the wild T. acuticaudatus neumanni. The breast may show hints of blue but is typically green to yellow-green. When wings are extended, one can observe blue-brown hues transitioning to chestnut on the outer flight feathers. The tail is green on top and maroon to red-brown underneath, with a dazzling orange and scarlet iridescence under full-spectrum light. Legs are pink-brown, and claws are grey-brown. The upper mandible is horn-colored with a grey-black tip, while the lower mandible varies from horn-colored in juveniles to grey-black in adults, depending on the subspecies.

Habitat

These parakeets favor savanna-like environments, woodlands, and forest edges, steering clear of dense, humid forests such as the Amazon.

Distribution

Their range extends from eastern Colombia in the north to northern Argentina in the south.

Behaviour

Blue-crowned Parakeets are social birds known for their relative ability to mimic human speech. They thrive on interaction and require ample space and enrichment to stay healthy and content.

Breeding

Nesting occurs in tree cavities, where the female lays a clutch of three to four white eggs. She incubates them for 26 days, and the fledglings leave the nest approximately 52 days post-hatching.

Similar Species

While distinct in their blue crown, they may be confused with other green parrots in their range. However, the combination of their blue head and specific tail coloration under light can help differentiate them.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet in the wild consists of various seeds, fruits, and plant material.

Conservation status

The Blue-crowned Parakeet is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a stable population without immediate threats to its survival.