Maroon-bellied Parakeet

Exhibits a slender and compact morphology, measuring between 24 and 28 centimeters in total length, and weighing approximately 72 to 94 grams. The dominant plumage is a vibrant bright green, with a diagnostic maroon-red patch on the lower abdomen. The forehead features a narrow dark reddish-brown band, while the breast displays a distinctive scaly pattern of yellowish-green and olive margins. The primary wing feathers reveal an intense cobalt blue hue visible in flight, and the tail is green on its upper surface while displaying a rich coppery-red undertail. It is characterized by a prominent bare whitish eye-ring and a robust, dark greyish hooked beak.

Geographical distribution: Occupies a wide range in east-central South America, extending across southeastern Brazil (from southern Bahia and Minas Gerais down to Rio Grande do Sul), eastern Paraguay, northeastern Argentina (primarily in the provinces of Misiones, Corrientes, and Entre Ríos), and extending marginally into northern Uruguay.

Habitat: Prefers humid forest ecosystems, showing an ancestral association with the Atlantic Forest biome. It frequently occupies primary and mature secondary forests, gallery forests, native pine forests containing Paraná pine (Araucaria angustifolia), and open woodland clearings. Furthermore, it has successfully acclimated to rural agricultural borders and wooded urban parks and gardens.

Feeding: Sustains a highly opportunistic herbivorous diet, primarily consisting of seeds, wild fruits, flower buds, and nectar. It has a specialized seasonal relationship with the seeds of Araucaria angustifolia, which constitute a vital energy source during the colder winter months. This diet is occasionally supplemented with insects, larvae, and small invertebrates extracted from decaying bark.

Behavior: Demonstrates a highly gregarious nature, usually foraging and traveling in noisy flocks of 6 to 12 individuals, although large congregations of over 40 birds may form outside the breeding season. It performs rapid, agile, and undulating flights through the canopy, constantly uttering loud, harsh contact calls. They are mostly active during the early morning and late afternoon, spending the midday hours quietly preening in dense foliage.

Nesting: Occurs mainly between October and December. It relies on natural tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, or hollows in decaying trunks located at variable heights. The female lays a clutch of 3 to 6 white eggs, which she incubates for 21 to 25 days while being provisioned by the male. The altricial chicks are cared for by both parents and fledge after approximately 45 days in the nest, remaining associated with the family group for several weeks.

Conservation status: Listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, local populations remain vulnerable to the relentless fragmentation of the Atlantic Forest and the continuous degradation of old-growth nesting trees, alongside the pressures of the illegal pet trade, which targets this species due to its social character.