Pyrrhura Explained

Pyrrhura (Greek Red/Fire Tail) is a genus of parrots in the Arini tribe. They occur in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America (Panama and Costa Rica). Most are restricted to humid forest and adjacent habitats, but one species, the blaze-winged parakeet, prefers deciduous or gallery woodland, and another, the Pfrimer's parakeet, is restricted to dry regions. Some species are highly endangered.

Depending on the species, the total length range from 22to. All have long, pointed tails, a mainly green plumage, and a relatively narrow, dark greyish to white eye-ring. Many have scaly or barred chest-patterns and a whitish, pale grey, buff or reddish ear-patch.

They typically move around in small, noisy flocks, flying swiftly at or below canopy level. Once settled in a tree they tend to be silent (especially if aware of danger) and difficult to spot. They nest in a tree-crevice.

Some species are popular in aviculture, where they are commonly referred to conures instead of parakeets.^[1]

Taxonomy

The genus Pyrrhura was introduced in 1856 by the French naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte.^{[2] [3]} Bonaparte did not specify a type species but this was designated in 1891 by the Italian zoologist Tommaso Salvadori as Psittacus vittatus Shaw, 1811, which has been replaced by Psittacus frontalis Vieillot, 1818, the maroon-bellied parakeet.^{[4] [5]} The genus name is from the specific epithet of Microsittace pyrrhura Bonaparte, 1854 now Pyrrhura molinae Massena & Souancé, 1854, the green-cheeked parakeet. The name combines the Ancient Greek purrhos meaning "flame-coloured" or "red" with -ouros meaning "tail".^[6]

The taxonomy of some groups, in particular the Pyrrhura picta and the P. leucotis complexes, has changed significantly in recent years. In late 2008 it was proposed that the members of the P. picta complex from north-eastern Peru (the so-called "group 6" in Joseph, 2002) should be considered a new species, the Amazon red-fronted parakeet, P. parvifrons. This has yet to receive widespread recognition (e.g., by SACC), and consequently it is not included in the below list.

Species

The genus contains 24 species:^[7]

• Ochre-marked parakeet, Pyrrhura cruentata.
• Maroon-bellied parakeet, Pyrrhura frontalis.
• Blaze-winged parakeet, Pyrrhura devillei – traditionally a subspecies of P. frontalis.
• Crimson-bellied parakeet, Pyrrhura perlata – formerly P. rhodogaster.
• Pearly parakeet, Pyrrhura lepida – formerly P. perlata.
• Green-cheeked parakeet, Pyrrhura molinae.
• Painted parakeet, Pyrrhura picta.
• Sinú parakeet, Pyrrhura subandina – possibly extinct.
  • Todd's (Perijá) parakeet, Pyrrhura (picta) caeruleiceps.
  • Azuero parakeet, Pyrrhura (picta) eisenmanni.
• Venezuelan parakeet, Pyrrhura emma – formerly considered a subspecies of P. leucotis.
• Santarém (Hellmayr's) parakeet, Pyrrhura amazonum – traditionally a subspecies of P. picta.
• Madeira parakeet, Pyrrhura snethlageae
• Bonaparte's (Deville's) parakeet, Pyrrhura lucianii – traditionally a subspecies of P. picta.
• Rose-fronted parakeet, Pyrrhura roseifrons – traditionally a subspecies of P. picta.
  • Wavy-breasted parakeet, Pyrrhura (roseifrons) peruviana.
• White-eared (maroon-faced) parakeet, Pyrrhura leucotis.
• Grey-breasted parakeet, Pyrrhura griseipectus.
• Pfrimer's parakeet, Pyrrhura pfrimeri – traditionally a subspecies of P. leucotis.
• Fiery-shouldered parakeet, Pyrrhura egregia.
• Santa Marta parakeet, Pyrrhura viridicata.
• Maroon-tailed parakeet, Pyrrhura melanura.
• El Oro parakeet, Pyrrhura orcesi.
• Black-capped (rock) parakeet, Pyrrhura rupicola.
• White-necked parakeet, Pyrrhura albipectus.
• Flame-winged (brown-breasted) parakeet, Pyrrhura calliptera.
• Red-eared parakeet, Pyrrhura hoematotis.
• Rose-headed (rose-crowned) parakeet, Pyrrhura rhodocephala.
• Sulphur-winged parakeet, Pyrrhura hoffmanni.

References

• Arndt, T. (2008). Anmerkungen zu einigen Pyrrhura-Formen mit der Beschreibung einer neuen Art und zweier neuer Unterarten. Papageien 8/2008.
• Joseph, L. (2002). Geographic variation, taxonomy and distribution of some Amazonian Pyrrhura parakeets. Ornitologia Neotropical 13 (4): 337–363.
• Juniper, T., and M. Parr (1998). A Guide to the Parrots of the World. Pica Press, East Sussex.
• Remsen, J. V., Jr., C. D. Cadena, A. Jaramillo, M. Nores, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, T. S. Schulenberg, F. G. Stiles, D. F. Stotz, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 28 Jun. 2007. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithologists' Union.
• Restall, R., C. Rodner, and M. Lentino. (2006). Birds of Northern South America - An Identification Guide.. Christopher Helm, London.
• Ribas, C., L. Joseph, and C. Miyaki (2006). Molecular systematics and patterns of diversification in Pyrrhura (Psittacidae), with special reference to the picta-leucotis complex. Auk 123 (3): 660–680.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Pyrrhura Conures | Beauty of Birds. 16 September 2021 .
2. Bonaparte . Charles Lucien . Charles Lucien Bonaparte . 1856 . Conspectum Psittacorum . Naumannia: Archiv für die Ornithologie Vorzugsweise Europa's . 6 . Genus 14 .
3. Book: Peters . James Lee . James L. Peters . 1937 . Check-List of Birds of the World . 3 . Harvard University Press . Cambridge, Massachusetts . 194 .
4. Book: Salvadori, Tommaso . Tommaso Salvadori . 1891 . Catalogue of the Psittaci, or Parrots, in the collection of the British Museum . Catalogue of the Birds in the British Museum . 20 . London . British Museum . 211 .
5. Book: Dickinson . E.C. . Edward C. Dickinson . Remsen . J.V. Jr. . James Van Remsen Jr. . 2013 . The Howard & Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World . 1: Non-passerines . 4th . Eastbourne, UK . Aves Press . 978-0-9568611-0-8 . 363 . registration .
6. Book: Jobling, James A. . 2010. The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names . Christopher Helm . London . 978-1-4081-2501-4 . 327 .
7. Web site: Gill . Frank . Frank Gill (ornithologist) . Donsker . David . Rasmussen . Pamela . Pamela Rasmussen . July 2023 . Parrots, cockatoos . IOC World Bird List Version 13.2 . International Ornithologists' Union . 10 December 2023 .