The brown-throated parakeet is a bright-colored bird from South America and the Caribbean. It is flashy plumage and social in nature.

Basically green, these parakeets may also sport yellowish-brown throats, orange cheeks, and tints of blue in the wings that make them catch the eye in every environment.

Commonly seen in open woodlands, savannas, and areas of human habitation, they have adapted quite well to a number of diverse environments.

Habitat and Distribution

The brown-throated parakeet is distributed from northern parts of South America-from Panama and Colombia through to the Lesser Antilles. They thrive in dry to semi-arid lands but have adapted well to tropical and suburban areas with plenty of food available. In many locations, particularly the Caribbean Islands, they have become so abundant that they are often seen in the trees as well as at feeders.

Diet

These parakeets chiefly scavenge for fruits, seeds, nuts, and berries. In relatively urban environments, they scan the ground for scraps and are known to visit bird feeders, thus becoming a very popular visitor in gardens. Adaptability in food choice does contribute a lot to their survival through various habitats.

Brown throated parakeet - Eupsittula pertinax.

Video by Earth cronicle

Behavior and Social Structure

The brown-throated parakeet is a very social bird that is usually in pairs or small flocks, though flocks are quite common, too. Their very loud squawking calls help to keep the flock together and alert them to other members of the flock of possible predators. They are active throughout the day, their main activities including foraging, grooming, and socializing with the other birds in their flock. During the breeding season, however, pairs are more territorial and then return to their respective social groups.

Breeding and Nesting

They nest in hollows of trees, even in artificial nests. These birds are considered only to form strong pairs and thus to be termed as monogamous. Both parents during breeding are actively participating in raising the chicks. Their female lays a clutch of about 3-5 eggs, which hatch out in about three weeks after incubation. Chicks depend on their parents for several weeks while learning how to forage and fly with watchful care from the parents.

Conservation Status

Though the brown-throated parakeet is not considered an endangered species, it still faces a great challenge due to habitat loss and illicit trade as pets. Places with some stable populations-in some places, continuance of this species depends totally upon conservation efforts.