Small Andean parakeet, 18–19 cm in length, with a slender appearance and long, pointed tail. Overall bright green coloration, somewhat paler on the underparts. Shows bluish primaries visible in flight. Bill pink to yellowish in the male, more grayish in the female. In Argentina, two subspecies occur: P. a. margaritae (northwestern Argentina to Catamarca): more uniformly green, with brighter tones. P. a. rubrirostris (Catamarca to Mendoza and central sierras): somewhat duller, with a slight bluish or grayish tinge on the underparts. Differs from the sympatric Andean Parakeet (Psilopsiagon aymara) by having a green crown (not dark gray) and green underparts (not white). More difficult to separate from the Andean Parakeet (Bolborhynchus orbygnesius), which is more compact with a shorter, broader tail, uniformly green without blue on the wings, and has very few records in Argentina, being an occasional species in the country.
Distribution: Distributed along the Andes from Peru to central Argentina. In Argentina it inhabits the northwest and central sierras in Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza, Córdoba, and San Luis, depending on the subspecies. The population in the central sierras is poorly known and lacks recent records. It performs altitudinal movements, descending to lower elevations in winter.
Habitat: Inhabits high-Andean steppes, puna, prepuna, and mountain ranges with shrubby ravines. Frequent on slopes with shrubs, rocky outcrops, and river edges. Found between 1,000 and 4,500 m a.s.l.
Behavior: Gregarious species, usually in pairs or flocks of 10 or more individuals. Moves actively among shrubs, rocks, and the ground. Flight fast, somewhat undulating, with agile wingbeats. Often perches on shrubs, rocks, or on the ground, where it also feeds. Emits rapid, high-pitched, metallic calls, or short, repetitive trilling series, less harsh than in other parrots.
Feeding: Mainly granivorous. Consumes seeds, shoots, and fruits of shrubs and plants from arid environments, obtained both from vegetation and from the ground. Feeds actively in groups.
Breeding: Nests between February and March. Uses cavities in banks, slopes, or among rocks, where it excavates or adapts deep holes. Lays 3 to 7 white eggs.
Conservation status: Species not threatened at national or international level (LC). Common and widely distributed in suitable habitats.
Author of this compilation: Diego Carus and María Belén Dri – 03/04/2026