
Friday 25 January
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Aves |
Order | Psittaciformes |
Family | Psittacidae |
Genus | Aratinga (1) |
The Cuban parakeet is the only parakeet on the island of Cuba, and is perhaps its most attractive bird. This enchanting parakeet is a striking green colour with a scattering of red flecks across the head, chest and belly, and a yellowish-green under the wings and tail (4) (5). Despite its striking plumage, the Cuban parakeet is remarkably well camouflaged, blending in with the green tree foliage (4) (6). One of the most obvious features of this distinctive bird is its robust downward-curving, hooked bill. This highly adaptive structure may be used to crush nuts and seeds, or more delicately, to preen and to grapple onto branches whilst clambering through the treetops (6). In common with most other parakeets, the sexes are very similar, but juveniles are distinguished by less red on the wings (4).
A highly social and conspicuous species, the Cuban parakeet typically forages in family groups or small flocks (2). Although largely frugivorous, it will also eat the seeds of palms, pines and various other tree species. The Cuban parakeet will also take the fruit of orange trees, the heads of maize and the berries of coffee, a behaviour that has labelled the species as a crop pest (4). This species flies between trees with a swift, direct flight and may be extremely vocal, calling with an array of chatters, squeaks and shrieks (6).
In common with most other parakeets, the Cuban parakeet is probably monogamous, mating with its partner for life. Pairs remain together constantly and reinforce the pair bond by feeding and preening together (6). Breeding takes place between April and July, coinciding with a peak in the productivity of fruit trees, and nests are constructed in holes in old trees, such as dead Roystonea regia and Sabal palviflora palms (4) (5). A clutch of three to five eggs is incubated for 23 to 25 days, and the young chicks will remain in the nest for 45 to 50 days before fledging (4).
Formerly widespread across the island of Cuba, the endemic Cuban parakeet was once one of the island’s most abundant birds. However, its distribution contracted throughout the 20thcentury and it is now found in only 14 relict, fragmented populations. Significant numbers of birds remain only in the inaccessible regions of the Zapata peninsula, the Trinidad Mountains and the Sierra de Najasa (5) (7).
The Cuban parakeet may be found in semi-deciduous woodlands, palm-savanna, and on cultivated land bordering woodlands or with large numbers of trees (5). This species is capable of occupying a variety of habitats, but will only survive if a certain amount of original forest remains, possibly because it requires holes in mature trees for nesting (7).
Throughout the 20thcentury, largely due to persecution as a crop pest, the Cuban parakeet suffered dramatic declines. Birds were captured by cutting down palms to take nesting chicks and were either killed or traded, with hundreds of birds sold to Eastern European countries each year. The threat of trapping is now thought to be somewhat insignificant, although some birds are still traded in local markets (7) (8).
Today, the primary threat to the Cuban parakeet is the loss of its habitat (7). The landscape of Cuba has been highly degraded, with only 15 to 20 percent of the land in its natural state. Vast tracts of forest have been destroyed to make room for coffee and tobacco plantations, while agriculture and man-made fires are encroaching upon forests (9). Furthermore, a key problem in many areas is the lack of appropriate legislation and legal enforcement, allowing some illegal activities to continue. The loss of nesting trees from hurricane damage has also been highlighted as a threat to the Cuban parakeet (5).
The Cuban parakeet is found in seven protected areas, offering the species some sanctuary from further declines (8). This vulnerable species has also benefited from the development of ecotourism projects at Mogotes de Jumagua and Hanabanilla, and its listing on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which should strictly regulate international trade (3) (5) (8). A nest box provisioning scheme has also been initiated and there are plans to reintroduce the species onto Isla de la Juventud off the Cuban coast to augment the mainland population. There is much hope that with the successful implementation of conservation measures, this rare species will be saved in its natural habitat where it belongs (5).
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This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
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Image credit
© Ariel Rodriguez
Ariel Rodriguez
Curador de Herpetología
División de Colecciones Zoológicas
Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática, CITMA
AP. 8029, CP. 10800
Havana
Cuba
ariel@ecologia.cu
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