Echo Parakeet Psittacula esques
Category
- Forests
General description
The Echo Parakeet is a parrot endemic to Mauritius. It is the only remaining parrot of the 6 endemic parrots of the Mascarene islands, all others having become extinct. It is a long-tailed green parakeet measuring 36 centimeters. Although easily confused with the smaller rose-ringed parakeet P. krameri, they are distinguished by their vocalisations, their slightly larger build, their brighter green colour and the bright red bill of the males. The female echo parakeets have a dark bill and are usually darker overall.
Habitat and ecology
The echo parakeet is found mostly in forests and upland scrub. It feeds in lowland, intermediate and scrub forests where it feeds almost exclusively on native plants, including buds, young shoots, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, twigs, and even bark and sap. Birds forage alone or in small groups in different areas according to the seasons. They can sometimes travel several kilometers to their feeding areas although the dwarf forests and scrublands of the south-west plateau tend to provide them with food year-round. It has been observed that echo parakeets are increasingly utilising exotic species for food, such as the strawberry guava. This behaviour is credited to helping their population survival.
Breeding occurs between September to December amongst monogamous couples. Females incubate the eggs with a clutch size of 2 to 3 in nests found in the natural cavities of native trees. Incubation lasts 21 to 25 days, with a high hatching success rate. Fledgling usually begins end of October to the beginning of February or later. Fledglings tend to stay with their parents for up to 2 to 3 months after leaving the nests.
Conservation status and threats
The echo parakeet is found mostly in forests and upland scrub. It feeds in lowland, intermediate and scrub forests where it feeds almost exclusively on native plants, including buds, young shoots, leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, twigs, and even bark and sap. Birds forage alone or in small groups in different areas according to the seasons. They can sometimes travel several kilometers to their feeding areas although the dwarf forests and scrublands of the south-west plateau tend to provide them with food year-round. It has been observed that echo parakeets are increasingly utilising exotic species for food, such as the strawberry guava. This behaviour is credited to helping their population survival.
Breeding occurs between September to December amongst monogamous couples. Females incubate the eggs with a clutch size of 2 to 3 in nests found in the natural cavities of native trees. Incubation lasts 21 to 25 days, with a high hatching success rate. Fledgling usually begins end of October to the beginning of February or later. Fledglings tend to stay with their parents for up to 2 to 3 months after leaving the nests.
Did you know?
When foraging, some echo parakeets tend to have favoured fruit trees and may even use the same one for several generations.
