Description: Small Andean parrot, 18–20 cm in length, with a compact body and long, pointed tail. Shows a dark gray to grayish-brown crown, contrasting with a pale gray to whitish throat and chest. Belly pale with yellowish flanks; back, wings, and tail green, with greenish to bluish undertail coverts. Bill small and pale. It differs from the Mountain Parakeet (Psilopsiagon aurifrons) by its dark gray crown (not green) and whitish underparts (not green).

Distribution: Distributed in the Andes of southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina, extending toward the central-west and central sierras. In Argentina it occurs in Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan, and Mendoza, as well as in Córdoba and San Luis. It performs altitudinal movements, occupying higher elevations in summer and descending in winter.

Habitat: Inhabits high-Andean steppes, prepuna, and mountain ranges with shrubby ravines, including areas with columnar cacti and shrublands in Andean valleys. Also frequents cultivated areas and settlements. Found between 400 and 4,200 m a.s.l.

Behavior: Gregarious species, observed in pairs or small flocks. Active and mobile, moves among shrubs and also feeds on the ground. Flight fast and slightly undulating. Produces high-pitched and soft calls, usually in series of two or three notes, along with weak trills and chirps that resemble those of small passerines more than a parrot.

Feeding: Mainly consumes seeds, shoots, and berries of shrubs, as well as herbs collected from the ground. Feeds in groups, both in vegetation and on open surfaces.

Breeding: Nests between November and January. Uses cavities in banks, slopes, constructions, or even cacti. Clutch of 4 to 6 white eggs.

Conservation status: Species not threatened at national or international level (LC). Fairly common within its range and adapted to disturbed environments.


Author of this compilation: Diego Carus and María Belén Dri – 03/04/2026