The white-eared parakeet or maroon-faced parakeet is a Vulnerable species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is endemic to Brazil.
Region
Eastern Brazil (Atlantic Forest)
Typical Environment
Occurs in remnant lowland and foothill Atlantic Forest, including evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, forest edges, and secondary growth. It also visits shaded agroforestry such as cacao and mixed fruit orchards. The species is patchily distributed where suitable canopy remains. Flocks move locally to track fruiting trees and may use gallery forests in fragmented landscapes.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Also called the maroon-faced parakeet, this small Pyrrhura parakeet is restricted to Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. It forms noisy, fast-flying flocks that commute between fruiting trees and roosts. Habitat loss and trapping have caused declines, and it is assessed as Vulnerable. It often uses old woodpecker holes or natural cavities for nesting.
At Parque das Aves, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually travels in small, tight flocks and is highly vocal in flight. Pairs nest in tree cavities, often reusing suitable hollows year after year. Breeding is cooperative in some groups, with helpers occasionally accompanying pairs.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Calls are sharp, high-pitched chatters and screeches, especially when flying between feeding sites. At roosts, it gives excited, buzzy contact calls, with quieter twitters when perched and feeding.
Plumage
Mostly green with a scaled, pale-edged breast and maroon tones on the face and belly. Primaries show bright blue, and the tail is reddish-brown. The sides of the head feature a distinct white patch over the ear coverts.
Diet
Feeds primarily on a variety of wild fruits and berries, supplemented by seeds, flowers, and nectar. It often exploits seasonal fruiting peaks and may visit cultivated fruits when available. Foraging is mostly done in the canopy, where it nips off fruits and manipulates them with the bill and feet.
Preferred Environment
Forages in the mid to upper canopy of mature forest, edges, and tall secondary growth. It also frequents shade-cacao and mixed orchards bordering forest fragments.
