Hispaniolan parakeet

The Hispaniolan parakeet (Psittacara chloropterus) (Spanish: perico or periquito), colloquially known as xaxabí, is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae that is endemic to the island of Hispaniola (split between the Dominican Republic and Haiti).

Hispaniolan parakeet
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Psittacara
Species:
P. chloropterus
Binomial name
Psittacara chloropterus
Souancé, 1856

Description

It is a medium-sized parakeet, evenly colored green, with a long, pointed tail, pale beak and legs, white eye-ring, and red patch on the wing's wrist area. The sexes are identical; the bird is highly gregarious, forming flocks which can surpass several dozen individuals. The only similar bird in its native range is the possibly introduced olive-throated parakeet, from which it can be readily differentiated, mainly by wing patches that are blue, instead of red.

Habitat

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest, and arable land; nonetheless, there are populations that live in urban areas, like the ever-increasing one in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic.

Conservation

It is much more common in the Dominican Republic than in Haiti, where loss of habitat and persecution for the pet trade has made it rare. It is also persecuted in both countries as a crop-pest.

Taxonomy

The Puerto Rican parakeet (Psittacara maugei) was previously found on Mona Island, but became extinct circa 1882. It was considered a subspecies of the Hispaniolan parakeet before being considered as a distinct species.[2]

Naturalis_Biodiversity_Center_-_RMNH.AVES.110079_-_Aratinga_chloroptera_maugei_-_Psittacidae_-_bird_skin_specimen
Mounted specimen in the Naturalis Biodiversity Center

References

  1. BirdLife International (2020). "Psittacara chloropterus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T22685695A179413764. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22685695A179413764.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Day, David (1989). The Encyclopedia of Vanished Species. Hong Kong: Mclaren Publishing Limited. ISBN 0-947889-30-2.
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