Green-rumped parrotlet

The green-rumped parrotlet (Forpus passerinus), also known as the green-rumped parakeet, is a small parrot species found in northeastern South America and the Caribbean island of Trinidad. Its natural range extends from northern Venezuela eastwards to the lower Amazon in Brazil, including Suriname, and it has also been introduced to islands such as Curaçao, Jamaica, and Barbados.

Description and Identification

Measuring approximately 12 cm (4.7 inches) in length and weighing between 20–28 grams, the green-rumped parrotlet is predominantly bright green. A key distinguishing feature is its sexual dimorphism: males display purplish-blue on their primary and secondary wing feathers, along with bright turquoise on the leading edges of their wings. Females, in contrast, lack the blue coloration and often exhibit more yellow-green on their heads. Both sexes have dark brown eyes and light peach beaks and feet. Like all parrots, they possess zygodactyl feet, meaning two toes face forward and two face backward.

Distribution and Habitat

These parrotlets inhabit tropical South America and have established populations on several Caribbean islands. They are common in open, semi-arid lowland environments. Their preferred habitats include dry scrubland, deciduous woodland, gallery forest, farmland, forest edges, and areas that have been deforested. While they are not migratory, they may move locally to find food sources, and they are not typically found at altitudes above 1,800 meters (5,900 ft).

Behavior and Ecology

Green-rumped parrotlets are highly gregarious birds, often seen in flocks of up to 100 individuals, and they roost communally. Their vocalizations consist of light, twittering calls, which become louder and more penetrating when in larger flocks. They have individually distinct contact calls, used for mate recognition, that vary in duration, frequency, and pitch. They form strong pair bonds and are generally monogamous, though they may take new mates if widowed. Competition for nest sites is intense, leading to instances of non-breeding pairs attempting to usurp occupied nests.

Diet

The primary diet of the green-rumped parrotlet consists of seeds from various grasses and forbs. They also supplement their diet with flowers, buds, berries, and fruits, including seeds from fruit trees like Annona species and guava.

Reproduction

The breeding season for green-rumped parrotlets occurs during the rainy season, generally from May to November, with specific subspecies tending to breed in different months. They construct their nests in unlined tree cavities, holes within arboreal termite nests, or cavities in wooden fence posts. Females lay 5–6 small white eggs, and incubation begins after the first egg is laid, leading to asynchronous hatching. The incubation period lasts 18–22 days, and fledging occurs 29–35 days after hatching. The extended nestling period is thought to be influenced by nutrient availability in their habitat. Parents exhibit complex resource allocation strategies, with males often favoring larger chicks and females tending to feed smaller chicks first due to their begging behaviors.

Conservation Status

The green-rumped parrotlet is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. While its global population size is not precisely known, the species is considered widespread and common. However, there is evidence suggesting that populations are declining, likely due to habitat destruction caused by deforestation.

Aviculture

Green-rumped parrotlets are bred in captivity and kept as pets, although they are less common than some other parrotlet species. Due to restrictions on the import of wild birds, aviculture relies on existing captive populations.