Blue-bellied Parrot
Encyclopedia
The Blue-bellied Parrot or Purple-bellied Parrot (Triclaria malachitacea) is the only species
in its genus
. It is generally considered endemic
to the humid Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil
, but there are two unconfirmed records from Misiones
in Argentina
. It occurs up to 1000 m. (3300 ft).
It is a relatively long-tailed parrot
with a total length of c. 28 cm. (11 in). It is green overall and the bill is whitish. Only the male has the bluish-purple patch on the belly for which this species
is named. It has a whistled call and pairs will sing in duet, but it is typically fairly quiet and therefore easily overlooked.
It has been recorded feeding on seeds
, fruits, flower bud
s, nectar and some insect
s. The nest
is placed in the cavity of a large tree or palm. It nests between September (October in Rio Grande do Sul
) and January. The pair is highly territorial
during the breeding season.
Much of the original forest cover in its range has been removed in favour of cultivated crops like tobacco
and banana
s. Now mostly restricted to remnant forest strips on slopes and ridges, which cover far less than 10% of the original range. Previously, it was believed that 5,000-10,000 birds survived, but recent evidence suggests that c. 10,000 survive in the state of Rio Grande do Sul alone. Significant populations also exists in the states of Rio de Janeiro
and São Paulo
, but population estimates
for these are not available. Regardless, numbers are dwindling throughout its range due to further habitat changes. The cage-bird trade is not considered a major threat at this point, as only a small number are captured for the local market, but nevertheless fair numbers reached the Netherlands
in the 1970-1980s. It occurs in 14 protected areas.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in its genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
. It is generally considered endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
to the humid Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, but there are two unconfirmed records from Misiones
Misiones Province
Misiones is one of the 23 provinces of Argentina, located in the northeastern corner of the country in the Mesopotamiсa region. It is surrounded by Paraguay to the northwest, Brazil to the north, east and south, and Corrientes Province of Argentina to the southwest.- History :The province was...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. It occurs up to 1000 m. (3300 ft).
It is a relatively long-tailed parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
with a total length of c. 28 cm. (11 in). It is green overall and the bill is whitish. Only the male has the bluish-purple patch on the belly for which this species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
is named. It has a whistled call and pairs will sing in duet, but it is typically fairly quiet and therefore easily overlooked.
It has been recorded feeding on seeds
SEEDS
SEEDS is a voluntary organisation registered under the Societies Act of India....
, fruits, flower bud
Bud
In botany, a bud is an undeveloped or embryonic shoot and normally occurs in the axil of a leaf or at the tip of the stem. Once formed, a bud may remain for some time in a dormant condition, or it may form a shoot immediately. Buds may be specialized to develop flowers or short shoots, or may have...
s, nectar and some insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s. The nest
Bird nest
A bird nest is the spot in which a bird lays and incubates its eggs and raises its young. Although the term popularly refers to a specific structure made by the bird itself—such as the grassy cup nest of the American Robin or Eurasian Blackbird, or the elaborately woven hanging nest of the...
is placed in the cavity of a large tree or palm. It nests between September (October in Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
) and January. The pair is highly territorial
Territory (animal)
In ethology the term territory refers to any sociographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics...
during the breeding season.
Much of the original forest cover in its range has been removed in favour of cultivated crops like tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
and banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s. Now mostly restricted to remnant forest strips on slopes and ridges, which cover far less than 10% of the original range. Previously, it was believed that 5,000-10,000 birds survived, but recent evidence suggests that c. 10,000 survive in the state of Rio Grande do Sul alone. Significant populations also exists in the states of Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
and São Paulo
São Paulo (state)
São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...
, but population estimates
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
for these are not available. Regardless, numbers are dwindling throughout its range due to further habitat changes. The cage-bird trade is not considered a major threat at this point, as only a small number are captured for the local market, but nevertheless fair numbers reached the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in the 1970-1980s. It occurs in 14 protected areas.