Brown-backed Parrotlet
| Brown-backed Parrotlet | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| In Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittacidae |
| Genus: | Touit |
| Species: | T. melanonotus |
| Binomial name | |
| Touit melanonotus (Wied, 1820) |
|
The Brown-backed Parrotlet, Touit melanonotus, also known as the Black-backed Parrotlet, the Black-eared Parrotlet, and Wied's Parrotlet, is a small (15 cm, 6 in) green parrot found in south-eastern Brazil from Bahia to southern São Paulo. It has a dark brown mantle and back, brown ear coverts, and red outer tail with back tips. They frequent humid forest from 500–1,000 m (1,600–3,300 ft) (occasionally down to sea level), and are mostly found in small flocks of 3–20 birds.
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[edit] Ecology
It is mostly known from lower montane evergreen forest at 500–1,200 metres (1,600–3,900 ft), but also up to 1,400 m (4,600 ft) in the Itatiaia National Park. In addition it is found in near sea-level in Bahia and São Paulo.[1][2] Seasonal migration or dispersal is suspected, though this may amount to little more than short altitudinal movements. Food items are poorly studied but include large leguminous seeds, fruit of Rapanea acuminata, Clusia sp. and mistletoes.[3] Breeding is suspected to occur from September to October.[4]
[edit] Range and population
The Brown-backed Parrotlet is confined to south-eastern Brazil (Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo), but is a vagrant to Rio de Janeiro, and from São Paulo to south to Ilha do Cardoso.[2] They were resighted in Bahia after a century long absence.[3][5] They were never deemed common, but seen as rather rare, even in the 19th century. Their inconspicuous nature and naturally low densities may contribute to the paucity of records. A resurgence in sightings since the mid-1980s, and their discovery at Espírito Santo, was due to knowledge of their calls.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ F. Olmos in litt. (1999)[citation needed]
- ^ a b David C. Wege & Adrian J. Long (1995). Key Areas for Threatened Birds in the Neotropics. BirdLife Conservation Series. 05. Cambridge, U.K.: BirdLife International. ISBN 978-0-946888-31-3.
- ^ a b c E. O. Willis & Y. Oniki (1993). "New and reconfirmed birds from the state of São Paulo, Brazil, with notes on disappearing species". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 113: 23–34.
- ^ Collar (1997a)[citation needed]
- ^ J. Minns in litt. (1999)[citation needed]
- Juniper & Parr (1998) Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World; ISBN 0-300-07453-0.
- BirdLife Species Factsheet
[edit] External links
Media related to Touit melanonota at Wikimedia Commons- World Parrot Trust Parrot Encyclopedia – Species Profile
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