From Opus

Subspecies astec
Photo by Carlos B
Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica, July 2006

Aratinga nana

Includes Aztec Parakeet

Identification

30cm

• Green head, back and tail
• Olive throat and upper breast
• Orange eyes
• Bare cream skin around the eye

• Younger birds tend to have dark irises

• Olive lower body
• Grey feet
  

Distribution

Subspecies nana
Photo by Stanley Jones
Ecclesdown Road , Jamaica November 2010

Jamaica, and the Caribbean slope of Mexico through Central America to extreme western Panama where it may even be irregular. Can be found as feral in other places including e.g., St. Thomas and the Dominican Republic.

Taxonomy

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized^[1]:

• A.n. nana is native to Jamaica
• A.n vicinalis is found in north-east Mexico
• A.n astec is found from south-east Mexico to Costa Rica/western Panama

The Jamaican subspecies has in the past been considered a separate species from the Central American birds; these were named Aztec Parakeet in Howell and Webb

Habitat

Forest edges and other semi-open areas, but also feeding on crops, causing conflict with local farmers.

Behaviour

Breeding

They nest in termite holes and lay 3-5 eggs which hatch in 26- 27 days. They fledge about 50 days later.

Diet

Diet includes fruits, vegetables and tree buds and agricultural crops. Feeding often occurs in flocks.

References

1. Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
2. Howell & Webb, 1995. A guide to the birds of Mexico and northern Central America. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198540124
3. ambergriscaye.com

• List of references

External Links