Alternative name: White-eyed Conure
- Psittacara leucophthalmus
Identification
32–35 cm (12½-13¾ in)
The White-eyed Parakeet, as well as many other Psittacids, has a green overall colour. Some red spots in the neck may be noticed, although the amount of red is quite variable or even absent. Its bill is pale and the underwing patterns are normally red and yellow, but immatures may lack the red.
Sexes similar
Distribution
This bird is commonly seen throughout all South America, except for the southern part. They can be found in several sites, and become synanthropic in South-eastern Brazil. Introduced to Florida.
Taxonomy
Formerly placed in genus Aratinga by Gill and Donsker.
Subspecies
There are 3 subspecies[1]:
- P. l. nicefori:
- Known from one specimen from eastern Colombia (Meta)
- P. l. callogenys:
- P. l. leucophthalmus:
An additional subspecies propinqua is generally considered invalid[2].
Habitat
Savannahs, woods, moist lowland rain forests and gardens. Floodplains, xerophytic scrub at ca. 270 m.
Behaviour
The White-eyed Parakeet lives in crowded flocks of 40 individuals or more, being commonly observed perched on trees and eating fruits and seeds (Zanthoxylum riedelianum is an example). They sleep collectively on escarpments, plantations or under the roof of houses, where they may nest as well.
Diet
Their diet consists almost entirely of fruit.
Breeding
Like most of the Psittacids, this parrot does not collect material to build its nest, laying and hatching the eggs directly on the original surface. They generally nest in a tree hole.
Vocalisation
Voice: Raucous flight call.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved February 2017)
- BF Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) White-eyed Parakeet. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-eyed_Parakeet
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
