Austral parakeet

The austral parakeet, also known as the austral conure or emerald parakeet, is a captivating parrot native to South America. These birds inhabit regions from the southern tip of the continent up to Temuco in Chile. They rank among the largest conures, reaching about 35 cm in length. Their vivid green plumage is adorned with patches of red on their foreheads, lores, bellies, and upper tail feathers, although the extent of red varies with their geographical location.

These parakeets favor wooded areas, shrublands, and farmlands. In the southern portions of their range, they are found at lower altitudes, whereas in the north, they can be encountered at elevations up to 2000 meters. They frequently gather in small flocks of 10 to 15 birds, but occasionally they form larger congregations exceeding 100 individuals. Their diet primarily consists of grass and bamboo seeds, nuts, and small fruits. For nesting, they select tree cavities, which provide a secure environment to raise their young.

There are two recognized subspecies of the austral parakeet: Enicognathus ferrugineus ferrugineus and Enicognathus ferrugineus minor.