The cobalt-winged parakeet is 18 to 20 cm (7.1 to 7.9 in) long and weighs an average of 67 g (2.4 oz). The species is almost entirely green that is darker on its upperparts. Adults of the nominate subspeciesB. c. cyanoptera have a yellowish forehead, an orange chin, and a blue tinge on their crown and nape. Their flight feathers are blue; their central tail feathers are also blue and the rest are green. Immature birds are a duller version of the adult. Subspecies B. c. gustavi has very little blue on its head and a yellow edge on the carpals. B. c. beniensis is paler than the nominate with a similar amount of blue on its head and a yellow carpal edge like gustavi.[9]
Distribution and habitat
The subspecies of the cobalt-winged parakeet are found thus:[3][9][4]
B. c. cyanoptera, the upper Amazon Basin in eastern and southeastern Colombia, southern Venezuela, western Guyana, eastern Ecuador and Peru, northwestern Bolivia, and west-central Brazil
B. c. gustavi, the upper Huallaga River valley of northern Peru
B. c. beniensis, northeastern and central Bolivia from Beni to Santa Cruz
The cobalt-winged parakeet inhabits a variety of landscapes including the edges and interior of rainforest, secondary forest, várzea , savanna, and Llanos. In elevation it commonly reaches 1,000 m (3,300 ft) and occasionally 1,350 m (4,400 ft).[9]
Behavior
Movement
The cobalt-winged parakeet is thought to be mostly sedentary but might make some seasonal elevational movements.[9]
Feeding
Little is known about the cobalt-winged parakeet's foraging technique and diet. It has been recorded feeding on flowers, fruits, and Cecropia catkins. It also eats mineral-impregnated soil.[9][10]
Breeding
The cobalt-winged parakeet's breeding season is not well known but apparently includes June and July in the western part of its range. It nests in tree cavities. Captive pairs lay clutches of about five eggs that hatch in 24 days.[9]
The cobalt-winged parakeet's common calls are " a high-pitched “klee”, shrill “chree” or bisyllabic “chree-chree”" that are given both when perched and in flight. Another call is "a fast chattering series “chichichichichi”."[9] Members of flocks call simultaneously and make "a shrill chattering".[10]
Status
The IUCN has assessed the cobalt-winged parakeet as being of Least Concern. It has a very large range; its population size is not known but is believed to be stable. No immediate threats have been identified.[1] It is "[c]ommon throughout range...with no recent evidence of trade, hence rare in captivity."[9]
^ abcRemsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 30 January 2023. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved January 30, 2023
^ abcdGill, F.; Donsker, D.; Rasmussen, P., eds. (January 2023). "Parrots, cockatoos". IOC World Bird List. v 13.1. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
^ abRemsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. 30 January 2023. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved January 30, 2023
^Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/ retrieved November 10, 2022
^ abcdefghiCollar, N. and P. F. D. Boesman (2020). Cobalt-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris cyanoptera), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.cowpar1.01 retrieved February 21, 2023
^ abRidgely, Robert S.; Greenfield, Paul J. (2001). The Birds of Ecuador: Field Guide. Vol. II. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. pp. 192–193. ISBN978-0-8014-8721-7.