Endangered parrots of Bolivia: the red front stopped

Parrots are threatened in Bolivia due to the illegal trafficking of endangered species, and one of the most important is the red-faced parakeet ( Ara rubrogenys ), a species of psitácida that is only found in this Latin American country and that is seriously threatened.

Characteristics of the red-fronted parabae

This bird, considered a macaw of the genus Ara , is much smaller than some of its relatives, and is that it barely reaches 60 centimeters in total length. His name is granted because he has a very characteristic and distinctive red patch on his forehead, as well as others behind his eyes like cheeks. Also, has orange spots on shoulders and legs, which contrast with the rest of its greenish body.

All its body is covered by feathers, except around the eyes and after the peak, where your skin is pinkish. It has, like other macaws, a strong beak and in this case black, which allows it to break the strongest fruits that other birds can not open.

Redhead behavior

These parrots threatened are monogamous, which means they have a partner all their lives, although it is true that there are species that defy this rule. With it, breed in very particular nests found on the walls of inaccessible cliffs; in these nests there are usually two young, although in many cases only one of them comes forward.

They are parrots that live in much drier areas than other parrots, so in Many times they turn to nearby crops, especially during the dry season that runs from May to October , when large groups can be seen in corn crops near their habitat. Like most parrots, there is no marked sexual dimorphism, so males and females are very similar.

Habitat and conservation of the red-fronted parabalance

This animal lives in the forests of Bolivia, specifically in Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, Potosí and Santa Cruz , with a range of distribution of approximately 5 000 square kilometers. It is also linked to semi-arid areas of cliffs, which are the nesting sites of this threatened parrot.

Although formerly their distribution range was much higher: in the 1980s, the capture of these endangered parrots began to intensify for their illegal sale as a pet . More than 1,000 specimens were removed, and this has led the species to be considered in danger of extinction.

And it is that it is estimated that 40% of its habitat has been lost: the expansion of intensive agriculture to feed livestock or to produce fuels has wiped out much of the jungles that gave this bird home.

The species, however, has counted with few protection measures, and it has not been until recently when the government of Bolivia, together with conservationist associations, has committed to their protection.

To do this, they are planning create reserves and support local development respectful of the environment, so that illegal trafficking and clearing of their habitat cease , and thus secure a future for threatened parrots in Bolivia.