Bonaparte's parakeet, also known as Deville's parakeet, or in aviculture as Deville's conure, is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is restricted to the Brazilian state of Amazonas south of the Solimões river.
Region
Western Brazilian Amazon
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland Amazonian forests south of the Solimões River, particularly between the Purus and Madeira rivers. It uses terra firme and várzea (seasonally flooded) forests as well as secondary growth and forest edges. Birds often track fruiting trees and may enter clearings and river margins to feed. They are most frequently encountered in small to medium-sized flocks moving through the mid- to upper canopy.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 3/5
Also called Deville's parakeet or Deville's conure in aviculture, this small Pyrrhura parakeet is part of the Painted Parakeet complex but is often treated as a distinct species. It forms noisy, fast-moving flocks that forage high in the canopy and along riverine forest edges. Like many Amazonian parrots, it nests in tree cavities and tracks seasonal fruiting trees.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; swift canopy flights
Social Behavior
Typically found in small, cohesive flocks that keep contact with high-pitched calls while foraging. Pairs or small groups investigate tree cavities for nesting. They show strong pair bonds and engage in mutual preening within flocks. Breeding likely coincides with peak fruit availability.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Calls are sharp, high-pitched chits and squeaky trills, often repeated rapidly in flight. When perched, they give softer chatter and twittering notes to maintain flock cohesion.
Plumage
Mostly green with a scaly, pale-edged pattern on the breast, a maroon belly patch, and blue outer wing feathers. The tail is reddish-brown with greener upper tail coverts. The face shows paler ear coverts and a bare, whitish eye ring.
Diet
Feeds primarily on wild fruits, berries, and seeds, supplementing with flowers and nectar when available. They may take soft plant matter and occasionally small invertebrates incidentally while foraging. Flocks move widely to track seasonal fruiting trees, sometimes joining mixed-species parrot gatherings at abundant food sources.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the mid to upper canopy of terra firme and várzea forests and along riverside edges. They also exploit secondary growth, forest fragments, and fruiting trees near clearings.
