# Red-masked Parakeet

Scientific name: Psittacara erythrogenys

Bird group: [parakeet](https://birdsofpuertorico.com/family/parakeet)

Canonical source: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/bird/202/Red-masked-Parakeet

## Identification

The red-masked parakeet (Psittacara erythrogenys) is a medium-sized parrot from Ecuador and Peru. It is popular as a pet and are better known in aviculture as the cherry-headed conure or the red-headed conure. They are also considered the best talkers of all the conures.
Red-masked parakeets average about 33 cm (13 in) long, of which half is the tail. They are bright green with a mostly red head on which the elongated pale eye-ring is conspicuous; the nape is green.  Also, the lesser and median underwing coverts are red, and there is some red on the neck, the thighs, and the leading edge of the wings. Juveniles have green plumage, until their first red feathers appear at around the age of four months. Its call is two-syllabled, harsh and loud.


## Distribution and habitat

The Red-masked Parakeet is native to Ecuador and Peru 
(Best and others 1995, Clements 
and others 2001, Juniper and Parr 
1998), and has been introduced 
to Puerto Rico where it mostly 
occurs in urban areas and 
forested areas nearby (Falcón 
and Tremblay 2018). Populations 
are concentrated in the San Juan 
metro area and around Arecibo-
Barceloneta on the north coast 
and has shown a population 
increase on the island (Falcón 
and Tremblay 2018). The atlas 
fieldwork yielded a total of seven 
records within six hexagons or 1 
percent of the 479 total hexagons (see map). Of the six hexagons 
where this species was found, 
breeding met the atlas definition 
of confirmed in 17 percent (one) 
of the hexagons, probable in 
50 percent (three), and possible 
in 17 percent (one), while the 
species was also observed in an 
additional hexagon (17 percent) 
but without evidence of breeding 
(see map). Red-masked Parakeet distribution. The map shows the highest breeding code by hexagon and overlaying the ecological life zones in 
Puerto Rico. Note: percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

## Breeding

The Red-masked Parakeet nests in tree cavities/holes (Juniper 
and Parr 1998), termite nests, or 
cliffs (Juniper and Parr 1998). 
Atlas results show that this 
species breeds during April,       193Red-masked Parakeet/Perico FrentirrojoJuly, and December, peaking in December (see chart), in the 
subtropical moist forest life zone 
(100 percent of the hexagons) 
(see table and map). 

## Conservation

The current overall population trend of the Red-masked 
Parakeet has not been quantified 
or assessed, but the species is 
suspected to be undergoing a moderately rapid decline due to 
trapping for the pet trade as well 
as habitat loss and fragmentation 
(BirdLife International 2018). 
However, the population trend 
for this species in Puerto Rico 
is described as increasing 
(Falcón and Tremblay 2018). 
This species is currently listed 
as a Near Threatened species by 
the IUCN (BirdLife International 
2018). Locally, this species is not listed in any of the threatened 
categories of PRDNER and 
USFWS. In Puerto Rico, the Red-
masked Parakeet has a protected 
habitat in land of 13 percent or 
15 km2 of the total area covered by the hexagons where evidence 
of breeding was found for this 
species (119 km2). 

Photo: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_202_Im0.png.webp

Distribution map: https://birdsofpuertorico.com/static/images/webp/in_202_Im1.png.webp

Source note: Text is reproduced from this site's published record. Historical conservation statements and taxonomy have not been independently revalidated. See https://birdsofpuertorico.com/about for source credits and limitations.