Brown-backed Parrotlets aka Black-backed Parrotlets, the Black-eared Parrotlets or Wied's Parrotlets
Parrotlet Library ( 
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The Brown-backed Parrotlet, Touit melanonota, also known as the Black-backed Parrotlet, the Black-eared Parrotlet, and Wied's Parrotlet, is found in southeast Brazil from southern Bahia south to southern São Paulo.
It frequents humid forest from 500 m (1,700 ft) to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). Rarely they move down to lower altitudes. They are usually found in small flocks of 3-20 birds.
They only occur in few localities and are endangered through deforestation. Their population may possibly consist of less than 5,000 birds.
They are described as shy - mostly seen flying as they are well camouflaged in the foliage. They prefer tall and medium-sized tree tops. They are very quiet and usually climb around branches agilely when foraging. Their flight is swift.
Ecology
Records are principally from lower montane evergreen forest at 500-1,200 m 9, but up to 1,400 m in Itatiaia National Park5, and near sea-level in Bahia and São Paulo. It may undertake seasonal migration or dispersal, in some areas possibly only over quite short altitudinal distances. The only known food items are the seeds of large leguminous forest trees and the fruit of Rapanea acuminata, Clusia sp. and mistletoes10. Breeding presumably occurs in September-October, but this remains unconfirmed.
Range & population
Touit melanonota is confined to south-east Brazil (Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo). It is sporadically, but widely, reported in Rio de Janeiro, while in São Paulo, there are records from six sites south to Ilha do Cardoso. Recent records from three sites in Bahia, are the first since the 19th century. It has generally been considered rare throughout its range, even by 19th century commentators, but with the proviso that parrotlets of this genus occur at very low densities, and their inconspicuous habits result in their often being overlooked. Records from several new sites since the mid-1980s, including the first for Espírito Santo, have stemmed from knowledge of the species's calls, after previously fruitless fieldwork in the areas involved.
Description
The Broan-backed Parrotlet is a small parrot that averages 15 cm or 6 inches in length (including tail).
It is mainly green with a dark brown mantle and back, brown ear coverts, and red outer tail with back tips.
Female as male, but sides of body only with bluish-grey tinge.
Immatures as female.
Diet / Feeding
Their natural diet is likely to consists of fruits, seeds, berries and tiny nuts.
Copyright: Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia.org. Information added by Avianweb.
Taxonomy
Genus: Scientific: Touit ... English: Spotted-tailed Parrotlets ... Dutch: Bontstaartpapegaaien ... German: Buntschwanzpapageien ... French: Perroquet à dos couleurs ...
Species: Scientific: Touit melanonota ... English: Brown-backed Parrotlet ... Dutch: Bruinrugpapegaai ... German: Schwarzrückenpapagei, Braunrückenpapagei ... French: Perroquet à dos brun
CITES II - Endangered Species
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