Caatinga Parakeet

The Caatinga parakeet (Eupsittula cactorum), also called the cactus parakeet and in aviculture the cactus conure, is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is endemic to eastern Brazil. == Taxonomy and systematics == The Caatinga parakeet has two subspecies, the nominate E. c. cactorum (Kuhl, 1820) and E. c. caixana (Spix, 1824). The Cattinga parakeet and the brown-throated parakeet (E. pertinax) form a species pair. == Description == The Caatinga parakeet is about 25 cm (9.8 in) long. The sexes are alike. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a pale brown forecrown, cheeks, throat, sides of the neck, and breast. Bare whitish skin surrounds their eye. Their belly and vent area are yellow-orange. Their nape, ear coverts, upperparts, and tail are green. Their wings are mostly green with bluish flight feathers. Immature birds are similar to adults but have a completely green crown and duller underparts. Subspecies E. c. caixana has the same plumage pattern as the nominate but is overall paler. == Distribution and habitat == The Caatinga parakeet subspecies E. c. caixana is the more northerly of the two. It is found in northeastern Brazil from…