[order] PSITTACIFORMES | [family] Psittacidae | [latin] Leptosittaca branickii | [authority] Berlepsch and Stolzmann, 1894 | [UK] Golden-plumed Parakeet | [FR] Conure a pinceaux d’or | [DE] Pinselsittich | [ES] Aratinga de Pinceles | [NL] Goudpluimparkiet | [copyright picture] Birdlife
Subspecies
Monotypic species
Genus
The Golden-plumed Parakeet (Leptosittaca branickii) is a Neotropical parrot species within the Psittacidae family, belonging to the monotypic genus Leptosittaca. This somewhat Aratinga-like species is found in humid temperate highland forests, especially with Podocarpus, on the east Andean slope in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It is generally local and uncommon. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Physical charateristics
Both adults green in colour, yellowish on underparts, and washed with orange on abdomen; frontal band reaching to lores orange; orange band meeting yellow line beneath eye and reaching back to form tuft of elongated feathers reaching past ear coverts; green tail washed with red. Bill dark grey. Eye ring bare and grey/white. Eye orange.
Listen to the sound of Golden-plumed Parakeet
[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/PSITTACIFORMES/Psittacidae/sounds/Golden-plumed Parakeet.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
recorded by Todd Mark
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Range
South America : Colombia to Peru. The species is widely but locally distributed in Colombia (both slopes of the Central Andes, the southern base of the East Andes and one record from Cerro Munchique, Cauca, in the West Andes), Ecuador (isolated massifs in the far north and south, but only in the south on the main Andean ridges) and Peru (Cordillera de Colan and the east Andean slope, with one record on the west slope of the Cordillera Central in La Libertad). It has declined considerably in Colombia and Ecuador, but seems stable in Peru. The Nevado del Ruiz-Nevado del Tolima massif, Colombia, harbours 1,000-3,000 birds. In forests of the Cordillera de Chilla, Ecuador, densities of c.2.3 birds/km2 and c.6.6 birds/km2 have been estimated.
Habitat
It inhabits temperate cloud and elfin forest at 2,400-3,400 m, occasionally down to 1,400 m. Some populations are nomadic, possibly owing to a heavy dependence on Podocarpus cones. It nests in dead wax palms Ceroxylon sp., even where these trees are scarce. Nesting probably corresponds to food availability, and may not be seasonal.
Reproduction
There is little information on the breeding behavior of this species, although it has been observed apparently prospecting for nest sites in palms (Ceroxylon quindiuense). So nests in dead wax palms Ceroxylon sp., even where these trees are scarce. Nesting probably corresponds to food availability, and may not be seasonal. No further details.
Feeding habits
It feeds primarily on Podocarpus seeds, but also seeds and fruits of other cloud forest trees, moving about the landscape in small, tight flocks.
Video Golden-plumed Parakeet
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snGMMJnjDgc
copyright: Diego Calderon
Conservation
Very high levels of forest clearance, fragmentation and degradation have presumably resulted in this species undergoing rapid population declines and consequently qualifying as Vulnerable. Total numbers are difficult to assess, but the population may be small.
Habitat loss and fragmentation has been considerable throughout its range, with 90-93% of montane forest lost in Colombia, but less in Peru. Wax palms are rarely cut, but suffer poor recruitment because cattle browse young trees and logging in adjacent areas increases their susceptibility to parasites and disease. In Colombia, it is trapped as a maize pest and as a pet. Many protected areas are affected by the burning and grazing of paramo, settlement, clearance for agriculture, logging, narcotics and gold mining.
Habitat loss and fragmentation has been considerable throughout its range, with 90-93% of montane forest lost in Colombia, but less in Peru. Wax palms are rarely cut, but suffer poor recruitment because cattle browse young trees and logging in adjacent areas increases their susceptibility to parasites and disease. In Colombia, it is trapped as a maize pest and as a pet. Many protected areas are affected by the burning and grazing of paramo, settlement, clearance for agriculture, logging, narcotics and gold mining.
Migration
It is apparently nomadic, perhaps in response to variation in food availability. Some populations are nomadic, possibly owing to a heavy dependence on Podocarpus cones.
Distribution map
