Photo courtesy of Glen Tepke

Orange-fronted Parakeet

Aratinga canicularis
Order: Aratinga
Family: Psittacidae
Listen:
Sound courtesy of Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Did you know?

The Orange-fronted Parakeet is one of the most common bird species at the Los Tarrales Reserve coffee plantation in Guatemala. They are commonly seen perching in the trees surrounding the coffee processing facility at the plantation.

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General Description

The Orange-fronted Parakeet is a conspicuous, medium sized (9-10 inches), long-tailed parakeet, which ranges along the coastal forests of Mexico and Central America. These parakeets are mostly green above with a bluer crown and a bright orange frontal band, which gives them their name. Pale brown to yellowish underparts contrast with colorful wings which flash deep blue in flight. Although vocalizations include a variety of chirps and chatters, these birds often make themselves conspicuous with a raucous, screaming call. The Orange-fronted Parakeet of the Americas is not to be confused with an endangered New Zealand Parakeet (Cyanoramphus malherbi), which is sometimes called by the same name.

Orange-fronted Parakeets are cavity nesters, and they typically excavate their holes in nests of tree-dwelling termites. Occasionally they will also use existing woodpecker holes or natural cavities. Their diet consists of fruits, flowers, and seeds.

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Habitat & Migration

The Orange-fronted Parakeet is a permanent resident of the Pacific lowlands of Central America where it ranges from sea level to 4,500 feet. Often seen in flocks of 30 or more birds, this species is the most common parakeet in its range. A very similar species, the Olive-throated Parakeet, inhabits the Caribbean slope of Central America, although there may be some overlap in the interior of Honduras.

The Orange-fronted Parakeet can be found in a variety of forested habitats including arid to semi-humid forest, arid tropical scrub with forest patches, plantations, and occasionally towns and villages. In the forest, they commonly occupy the upper level of the forest canopyThe uppermost layer in forest habitat.
More.... Orange-fronted Parakeets are not long-distance migrants, although they become more nomadic outside of the breeding season, often congregating in groups of 100 or more at communal roosts.

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The Coffee Connection

Use of shade coffee habitat by the Orange-fronted Parakeet was documented in an extensive study at El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve in southern Mexico. Coffee is the main crop on the reserve, and the area includes both small farms with coffee plantings under the original, natural forest canopy (rusticThe coffee-growing system in which the original tree layer is left intact and coffee bushes replace the original undergrowth.
More... coffee), as well as large plantations where monocultureThe cultivation of a single crop, such as coffee, on a farm or in a region. Also may refer to the planting of one tree species to provide shade cover for a crop.
More... shade forest is planted and managed for the desired coffee production. Orange-fronted Parakeets were observed in natural rainforest as well as in the upper canopy of the rustic shade coffee farms. Both of these habitats are low elevation (below 4,000 feet) with a high, dense forest canopy. No parakeets were found in monoculture shade coffee or sun coffeeCoffee grown without the cover of a forest canopy or planted shade. This usually requires intense management and chemical inputs.
More... habitats.

Orange-fronted Parakeets are abundant and commonly observed at Los Tarrales Reserve near Atitlan Volcano, Guatemala. Like other rustic shade coffee plantations, this reserve maximizes biodiversity by cultivating coffee and other forest products under a natural forest canopy. During a recent Christmas bird countAnnual survey organized by the National Audubon Society in which volunteers conduct a bird census in December and January.
More..., 927 birds of 152 species were recorded. Seventy-five Orange-fronted Parakeets were included in the total count, indicating the parakeet is a dominant species at the reserve. Orange-fronted Parakeets are also commonly observed in the trees surrounding the coffee processing facility at Los Tarrales.

Orange-fronted Parakeets appear to be most common in shade coffee where the natural forest canopy has been preserved. Because the range of the Orange-fronted Parakeet is limited to a fairly narrow band along the Pacific slope, this species is not included in many studies of bird interaction with shade-grown coffee. More study is needed to document the response of the Orange-fronted Parakeet to the various types of shade grown coffee.

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Conservation Status

According to the International Union for Conservation of NatureA global environment network which publishes a "Red List" indicating the conservation status of plants and animals. Status on the “Red List” increases from Least Concern to Near Threatened to Vulnerable to Endangered to Critically Endangered.
More... (IUCN), the global conservation status of the Orange-fronted Parakeet is "Least Concern." One source published some years ago suggested there was previously some population decrease due to capture of these birds for the pet trade; however, most current sources list the species as common in its range, with a stable population. Since the Orange-fronted Parakeet occupies the forest canopy, shade coffee plantations that preserve the natural forest canopy are likely important to these and other forest-dwelling birds.

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