Red-masked Parakeet

Aratinga erythrogenysOrder: PSITTACIFORMES Family: Parakeets and Parrots (Psittacidae)

Codes: Common Name: Non AOU Scientific Name: Non AOU ITIS Taxonomic No.: 177679

Related Birds

Green Parakeet
Mitred Parakeet

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Overview

Red-masked Parakeet: Fairly large green parakeet with bright red on head, at bend in wing and on the thighs. White eye ring. Hooked bill is pink-beige in color. Legs and feet are gray. It is considered threatened in its native range of Ecuador and Peru. AKA Red-masked Conure, Cherry-headed Conure.

Range and Habitat

Red-masked Parakeet: In its native range found throughout western Ecuador into northern Peru. Populations of escaped captive birds found in Los Angeles, California. Utilizes a wide variety of lowland habitats with a preference for arid and semiarid scrub and cacti habitats.

Topo Map: Perching-like Body

Voice Text

"screeet"

Interesting Facts

The Red-masked Parakeet has been the 10th most common neotropical parrot imported into the USA with over 26,000 parakeets checked in from 1981 to 1985.

They were formerly more common in its limited range, and only fairly recently has been reclassified from a species of least concern to a species near threatened.

A group of parakeets is collectively known as a "chatter" and a "flock" of parakeets.

Bird Term Glossary

Author

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Artist

Dwight Kirkland

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Red-masked Parakeet

● Song: "screeet"

● Foraging & Feeding: Red-masked Parakeet: Little known. Travels in groups of 2 to 12 birds, sometimes many more at communal roosts or prolific food supplies. Moves seasonally over long distances to find crops of fruits.

● Breeding & nesting: Red-masked Parakeet: Little known. Nests in tree cavities and other cavities. Lays three to four white eggs during the rainy season, from January to March in Ecuador.

● Similar species: Red-masked Parakeet: Mitred, Red-fronted, and White-eyed Parakeets all have much less red on the head and wing.

Flight Pattern

Fast direct flight with rapid wingbeats.

● Range & Habitat: Red-masked Parakeet: In its native range found throughout western Ecuador into northern Peru. Populations of escaped captive birds found in Los Angeles, California. Utilizes a wide variety of lowland habitats with a preference for arid and semiarid scrub and cacti habitats.

^BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester

^Population

^MigrationNonmigratory

^Weight6 Ounces

Perching-like Body

Eye ring

The circle around the eye formed of feathers that are a different color from the rest of the face.

4 and 6 letter alpha codes

The four letter common name alpha code is is derived from the first two letters of the common first name and the first two letters of common last name. The six letter species name alpha code is derived from the first three letters of the scientific name (genus) and the first three letters of the scientific name (species). See (1) below for the rules used to create the codes..

Four-letter (for English common names) and six-letter (for scientific names) species alpha codes were developed by Pyle and DeSante (2003, North American Bird-Bander 28:64-79) to reflect A.O.U. taxonomy and nomenclature (A.O.U. 1998) as modified by Supplements 42 (Auk 117:847-858, 2000) and 43 (Auk 119:897-906, 2002). The list has been updated by Pyle and DeSante to reflect changes reported by the A.O.U from 2003 through 2006.

Field Guide to Birds of North America