About Brotogeris jugularis (Statius Muller, 1776)
Scientific Nomenclature and Size
The orange-chinned parakeet (scientific name Brotogeris jugularis (Statius Muller, 1776)) measures 18 to 19 cm (7.1 to 7.5 in) in length and weighs between 53 and 65 g (1.9 and 2.3 oz).
Nominate Adult Head Features
Adults of the nominate subspecies have a bright green head with a bluish tint on the crown, a white eye ring, an orange chin, and a pale bill. The orange chin patch is often difficult to see.
Adult Upperparts and Wing Features
Their upperparts and tail are bluish green, with brown wing coverts that appear as 'shoulders' when the bird is perched.
Adult Underparts Features
Their underparts are mostly bright green, with a bluish vent and thighs. Their underwing coverts are yellow.
Immature Plumage
Immature orange-chinned parakeets are similar in appearance to adults.
Subspecies B. j. exsul Plumage
Subspecies B. j. exsul differs from the nominate subspecies by having entirely green underparts, a smaller and paler orange chin patch, darker 'shoulders', and more olive coloration in the mantle.
Nominate Subspecies Range
The nominate subspecies has the far larger range of the two: it occurs from the southwestern Mexican state of Oaxaca south, mostly along the Pacific side of Central America, through western, central, and northern Colombia, into northwestern Venezuela.
Subspecies B. j. exsul Range
Subspecies B. j. exsul is found in Arauca Department of northeastern Colombia and across northern and western Venezuela as far as Guárico.
Habitat Preferences
The species lives in semi-open to open landscapes, including Llanos, deciduous woodland, secondary forest, gallery forest, plantations, and treed areas of towns. It avoids evergreen forest.
Elevation Range
Its elevation range extends from sea level to 1,400 m (4,600 ft).
