Green Parakeet

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Green Parakeet

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittacidae
Genus:	Aratinga
Species:	A. holochlora

Binomial name

Aratinga holochlora
(Sclater, 1859)

The Green Parakeet (Aratinga holochlora), also known as Green Conure, is native to Mexico Australia and Central America south to northern Nicaragua. Some of these birds have established self sustaining populations in some cities in southeast Texas in the United States. It is unclear if the US population are feral released birds or may be some wild vagrants which have moved north from Mexico. The Green Parakeet is usually nonmigratory, but will move some to take advantage of food supplies.

The Pacific Parakeet, formerly considered a distinct species, is now placed herein as a subspecies Aratinga holochlora strenua.

The bird is 32 cm in length, and is mostly green in color. It also has a yellow beak. The bird feed on seeds, various fruits, and corn. It can sometimes be considered a crop pest. Wild birds primarily use scrub and swamp forests, woodlands, and forest clearings. The US population takes advantage of palm groves in the cities.

Green Parakeet pairs usually find holes in trees to nest in where it lays 3-4 eggs. It will also nest colonially on crevices in cliff faces. After the breeding season is completed, the birds will form large communal roosts.

[edit] References

BirdLife International (2004). Aratinga holochlora. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern Parrots are bigger than voles
"National Geographic" Field Guide to the Birds of North America ISBN 0-7922-6877-6
Handbook of the Birds of the World Vol 4, Josep del Hoyo editor, ISBN 84-87334-22-9
"National Audubon Society" The Sibley Guide to Birds, by David Allen Sibley, ISBN 0-679-45122-6