General

Red-masked Parakeet: A fairly large green parakeet from Ecuador and Peru. They have a bright red face, forehead and crown; orbital ring is white; iris is orange. They are slightly yellow below; shoulder, edge of wing, lower thigh and outermost underwing coverts at bend in wing and on thighs are red. The underside of the wing and tail are olive yellow. Sexes are similar. Juveniles have green plumage until their first red feathers come in at around four months. They have a brown iris, rather than orange.

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 and San Francisco, California, also in Florida. Utilizes a wide variety of lowland habitats with a preference for arid and semiarid scrub and cacti habitats.

Breeding and 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.

Foraging and Feeding

Red-masked Parakeet: Their diet includes the seeds and fruit of several different tree species and Erythrina flowers. These birds have been observed feeding on the fruits of the cultivated tropical vegetation. They travel in groups of two to twelve birds, sometimes many more at communal roosts or near prolific food supplies. They move seasonally over long distances to find crops of fruits.

Vocalization

Red-masked Parakeet: Loud screeching "screeet" often given as strident choruses by groups.

Similar Species

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