Enicognathus ferrugineus (Statius Muller, 1776)

Taxonomy and Naming

The austral parakeet, whose scientific name is Enicognathus ferrugineus (Statius Muller, 1776), measures 28 to 36 cm (11 to 14 in) in length.

Body Size and Weight

One recorded male specimen of the subspecies E. f. minor weighed 155 g (5.5 oz). Males and females have identical appearance.

Adult Facial Coloration

For adults of the nominate subspecies, the forehead and lores are dull reddish, while the rest of the face is yellow-green.

Upperparts Coloration

The bird's upperparts are dull green.

Underparts Coloration

Its underparts are yellowish green with a dull reddish patch on the belly; dark feather edges create a scaly look.

Tail and Wing Coloration

The tail is also dull reddish, and the wings are mostly green with bluish green primaries.

Immature Plumage

Immature austral parakeets resemble adults, but the red markings on their face and belly are even duller.

Subspecies Distinction

Subspecies E. f. minor is smaller and darker than the nominate subspecies. The austral parakeet is the southernmost occurring parrot species.

E. f. minor Distribution

Subspecies E. f. minor is distributed in southern Chile from the O'Higgins Region south to Aysén, and in the adjacent southwestern Argentina from Neuquén Province to northwestern Santa Cruz.

Nominate Subspecies Distribution

The nominate subspecies occurs from the southern range limit of E. f. minor almost to Cape Horn.

Occurrence in Falkland Islands

Undocumented sight records from the Falkland Islands lead the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society to classify the species as hypothetical there.

Primary Habitat

This parakeet primarily lives in southern beech (Nothofagus) forest, and woodlands dominated by oaks (Quercus) and Drimys andina.

Secondary Habitat

It also lives in nearby semi-open areas, ranchlands, and occasionally occurs in cultivated areas.

Elevation Range

In the far southern part of its range, it is mostly found near sea level, while in the northern part it can be found at elevations up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft).