Austral Parakeet

Cachaña

Microsittace ferruginea

Length: 350mm. Sexes alike. Bill black; iris very dark brown; forehead reddish chestnut; head, neck, body, wings and tail coverts olive green margined with black, giving a scaly appearance; centre of belly and rectrices reddish chestnut. Legs black.

Habitat and behaviour: the Austral Parakeet inhabits the subantarctic forests, where it is frequently seen in flocks of 10-50 or more individuals; a very swift flier. On account of its loud and constant vocalisations, it is easily located. Perched, it can be almost invisible since it can remain quiet and totally silent.

During spring and summer it is found in high mountain forests, among the Nothofagus, trees where it feeds and breeds in cavities of large trees. The nest is located at the back of a large hole in the trunk and lined with plant debris and feathers; females lay up to eight white eggs. In autumn, when the first snows fall on the hills and extremely cold weather is felt with the first chills, the Austral Parakeet disperses to the lower valleys looking for a more temperate climate. On several occasions it can be seen flying high from one hill to the other; and it is not uncommon for flocks to dash down to the bottom of the valley. In inhabited areas they find abundant food in the orchards and fruit trees, they are especially fond of apples; they also like the seeds of blueberries as well as berries in bushes such as Laura, Maitén, Maqui and other. They usually fly to the ground to forage on the tender parts of plants and seeds, in which case it is remarkable how silent they can remain. When alarmed, they fly away quickly to the trees, bursting into loud shrieks.

Range: distributed in the narrow and extended stretch of the subantarctic Patagonian forest, from Neuquén to Tierra del Fuego. Populations in Tierra del Fuego, both on the Chilean and Argentine side of Isla Grande, as well as the Magallanes region, belong to the race Microsittace ferruginea ferruginea; from the south of Santa Cruz to Neuquén in Argentina

and from Aysén to Colchagua in Chile, the race Microsittace ferruginea minor is found.

Illustrated Handbook of the Birds of Patagonia

Kindness: Kovacs Family