Cobalt-rumped parrotlet

Distribution

Cobalt-rumped parrotlets are found in much of central and northern South America. Their range is split by each subspecies, as described above. It is generally common and widespread, though more localized in the Amazon Basin.

Status

The number of cobalt-rumped parrotlets is unknown, but the population is stable. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. The number of wild individuals is unknown.

Behavior

Flocks are usually around 20 birds but can grow to over 50 around fruiting trees or seeding grasses. They are highly social and gregarious. Cobalt-rumped parrotlets tend to feed in groups, usually between 2 and 12 individuals.

Cobalt-rumped parrotlets call while in flight and perched. Their calls are high-pitched "sheet" or "zeet" screeches or twittering. When feeding and socializing in large groups they make twittering and chattering noises.

Habitat

Cobalt-rumped parrotlets are mainly found in lowlands. They occur in dry and riparian woodlands, cerrado, caatinga, palm groves, semi-arid scrubland, savanna, and pastures. Cobalt-rumped parrotlets tend to avoid densely forested areas. They are not found at altitudes above 1,200 metres.

Cobalt-rumped parrotlets are generally non-migratory; however, populations in Argentina move locally according to the flowering seasons of various plant species in their diet. Populations in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest are altitudinal migrants.

Reproduction

Cobalt-rumped parrotlets' breeding season is May to August, but occupied nests have been observed in July, January, and March in different areas of the birds' range. Females lay 3-7 small, white, roughly spherical eggs. Some cobalt-rumped parrotlets have been observed to scrape rufous hornero nests with their beaks. Though the reason for this is not entirely clear, nests created by rufous horneros have been used by cobalt-rumped parrotlets to raise their broods, which has led to the suggestion that the parrotlets are "taste-testing" the nest material to determine whether it is suitable, according to unknown standards, for their needs. However, similar studies of other "Forpus" species have concluded that clay-licking provides important minerals to the birds that otherwise would not be accessible.

Food

Cobalt-rumped parrotlets mostly feed on "Cecropia sp." and "Ficus sp." fruits, "Mikania sp." and "Trema micrantha" seeds, and "Ambrosia sp., Handroanthus serratifolius", and "Marcgravia sp." flowers. However, they are known to occasionally feed on other plants such as grass. Cobalt-rumped parrotlets have been known to migrate locally based on the flowering and fruiting seasons of some of the main plants of their diet.

Predators

The cobalt-rumped parrotlet is not known to be affected by deforestation or the pet trade, unlike many of its close relatives in the genus "Forpus". There are many areas across its range that are already protected.