Bolborhynchus lineola (Cassin 1853)

Lineolated Parakeet

1. Bolborhynchus l. lineola (Cassin 1853)

Lineolated Parakeet

German: Katharinasittich

Description: green, forehead yellowish-green; crown with bluish tinge; feathers to back of head and nape of most birds with narrow black edging; flanks and sides of breast olive-green, each feather edged greenish-black; back and upper tail-feathers with broad black edging; thighs yellowish-green; bend of wing black; feathers to wing-coverts with black tips; under wing-coverts bluish-green; tail upperside dark green with broad black tips, underside dirty-green, bill horn-coloured; skin to narrow periophthalmic ring grey, iris dark grey; cere whitish and feet flesh-coloured.

Female on average with less blacking edging to feathers; tail upperside generally with narrow black tips, occasionally absent.

Immatures with duller plumage and less intensive black markings; crown with more marked blue tinge.

Length: 16 cm (6 ins)

Distribution: southern Mexico to Veraguas, western Panama; birds from northern Colombia and Venezuela should be regarded as belonging to nominate species.

2. Bolborhynchus l. tigrinus (Souancé 1956)

Barred Parakeet

German: Peru-Katharinasittich

Description: as lineola, but generally darker green; on average broader black edging; black to bend of wing often very extensive.

Length: 16 cm (6 ins)

Distribution: probably in localities in entire Andes region from northwest Venezuela (Tachira, Merida, Distrito Federal), Columbia (Norte de Santander south to Cauca), northwest Ecuador to central Peru (Cuzco, Ayacucho).

Habitat: open forest, cleared areas, savannah with trees and cloud forest of the sub-tropical zone of Central America between 900 m (3,000 ft) and 7 300 m (6 900 ft); occasionally visits cultivated areas.

Status: fairly common in localities.

Habits: wanders around in small groups of 6 to 30 birds; also flocks of hundred or more birds in localities; greater gatherings on roosting trees; seasonal migrations between altitudes and between areas; prefers tall trees; cannot be seen or heard from ground; usually very shy; but when feeding not easily alarmed and approachable; when frightened they fly up circle two or three times and then return to same tree; flight straight with strong wing-beats; can fly great distances; flight accompanied by cries sounding like song birds with their high-pitched twittering.

Natural diet: fruits seeds, buds berries and probably insects and their larvae; occasionally sighted in maize fields.

Breeding behaviour: breeding season in Central America probably from December; from May to July in Venezuela and Columbia; nests in dead trees, in one case at 4 m (13.5 ft) height.

Aviculture: quiet, calm parakeet, only occasionally lively; louder twittering if excited; newly imported birds should be well acclimatised; later hardy and fairly tough; on approach of attendant remains still, usually crouched on perch; if frightened flies wildly around; risk of injury; prefers climbing to flying; communal aviary with other birds of same species or similar size possible; little bathing or chewing requirement; but many birds enjoy being sprayed with water.

Accommodation: colony system in spacious outside flight allowing 1.5 sq. m (16 sq. ft) floor space per pair with adjoining shelter, spacious birdroom cage also possible, but not ideal; minimum temperature for newly imported birds 20°C (68°F), once acclimatised not less than 5°C (41°F).

Diet: seed mix of various millets, canary seed, oats, paddy rice, niger, dried rowan berries and some hemp; millet spray; fruit, vegetables and green-food; branches with fresh buds; mineral supplements; eggfood and biscuit for rearing.

Breeding in aviculture: regularly achieved and not difficult; colony system advantageous for breeding; breeding begins usually in May or June; diagonal nest box 25 x 15 x 15 sm (10 x 6 x 6 ins) or upright 18 x 18 x 30 cm (7 x 7 x 12 ins); entrance hole 5 cm (2 ins) diameter; clutch 4 to 5 eggs; incubation 20 to 21 days; keep nest box inspection to minimum, female broods mostly after laying second egg; fledging period 6 weeks; up to three breedings per year possible.