1.

- Introduction

Common name : Tricahue Parrot or Tricahue or Barranquero Parrot.

Scientific name : Cyanoliseus Patagonus Bloxami
Parrot family : Psittacidae
English name : Burrowing Parrot
 2.- Anatomy &
Appearance
The average length of this parrot can reach between 43
and 47 cms and the average weight of this parrot is
between 227 and 340 kilograms. The average life is
about 3 to 50 years. It can fly up to a speed of 60 km
per hour. The noise of the flock is heard from the
distance, whether they are in flight or camouflaged
between the branches of the trees.

It is easily identifiable by its large size, long tail and the

showy yellow abdomen. It has a dark olive green head
and, white area surrounding the eyes with a whitish
upper chest and olive green lower abdomen. The body
and wings are in olive green colour and the tail in olive
gray colour with a dark grey hooked bill and yellow-
white iris with pink legs. The lower thighs and the
center of the abdomen are orange-red while the lower
back, upper thighs, rump, vent and flanks are yellow in
colour.
 3.- Diet
It is a granivore and feeds on grains, also wild
fruits, berries, flowers, seeds and vegetable
matter. It feeds on the trees or shrubs and
occasionally on the ground. These birds feed on
the fruit from various species such as the red
crowberry, Chilean palo verde, Lycium salsum,
pepper trees, etc. In the winter, they feed on
seeds from cultivated crops and wild plants such
as thistles, as well as the Patagonian oak and the
Carboncillo in the Chilean foothills. This bird is in
the middle of the food web.
 4.- Habitat
• The bird is native to the center of Chile and the
distribution of this bird extends between the Copiapó
river and the Bio-bio river and even to a part of Valdivia.
However, today there are only some parrots in the central
zone of Chile, consisting of 85 percent of the population
in these regions.
• It usually lives in ravines, savannas, rural areas, shrub
steppes, Andean, Patagonian, arid lowlands, prairies,
pastures and in crops. It can also be found in an open dry
forest environment not far from rivers.
• For nesting, it prefers caves in ravines which it uses as a
bedroom almost all year round. It lays 2 to 5 eggs of
round, semi-glossy white color with an average size of 36
mm by 28 mm.
• Tricahue parrots can be found in the following countries
in South America: (i) Chile, (ii) Argentina and (iii) Uruguay.
5.- Predator or
prey
The Tricahue parrot is a prey.

The predators of the

Tricahue are hawks, eagles,
harriers and peucos.
 6.- Species
Survival Status
The Tricahue parrot is a threatened species. In
March 2007, Tricahue is classified as “endangered”
for the Atacama and Coquimbo regions and as
vulnerable bird.
It is in danger of extinction mainly due to the
action of man and due to the demand for purchase
and possession as a pet.
The main cause of extinction is due to the illegal
sale of chicks. It is protected by the hunting law
number #19,473, which prohibits the hunting or
capture of specimens of wild fauna. It also suffers
from the destruction of its habitat by poaching and
poisoning by farmers.
7.- Something Special
• Tricahues parrots are charming birds,
they have beautiful and elegant
colorful plumage.

• They are quite intelligent, fascinating

birds and wonderful pets.

• Due to this reason, humans have led

them to the danger of extinction.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
www.redobservadores.cl/?dslc-downloads=t
ricahue
www.rutaschile.com>guiasdeaves
www.avesdechile.cl

Thank you for your attention.