Pyrrhura

Pyrrhura (Ancient Greek for red/fire tail)^[2] is a genus of parrots in the Arini tribe. They occur in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America (Panama and Costa Rica). Most are restricted to humid forest and adjacent habitats, but one species, the blaze-winged parakeet, prefers deciduous or gallery woodland, and another, the Pfrimer's parakeet, is restricted to dry regions. Some species are highly endangered.

Pyrrhura
Green-cheeked parakeet (Pyrrhura molinae)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittacidae
Tribe:	Arini
Genus:	Pyrrhura Bonaparte, 1856
Type species
Psittacus vittatus[1] Shaw, 1811
Species
See text.

Maroon-tailed parakeet (in front), and black-capped parakeet (behind); illustration by Keulemans, 1891

Depending on the species, the total length range from 22 to 30 cm (8.7 to 11.8 in). All have long, pointed tails, a mainly green plumage, and a relatively narrow, dark greyish to white eye-ring. Many have scaly or barred chest-patterns and a whitish, pale grey, buff or reddish ear-patch.

They typically move around in small, noisy flocks, flying swiftly at or below canopy level. Once settled in a tree they tend to be silent (especially if aware of danger) and difficult to spot. They nest in a tree-crevice.

Some species are popular in aviculture, where they are commonly referred to as conures instead of parakeets.^[3]

Taxonomy

The genus Pyrrhura was introduced in 1856 by the French naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte.^[4][5] Bonaparte did not specify a type species but this was designated in 1891 by the Italian zoologist Tommaso Salvadori as Psittacus vittatus Shaw, 1811, which has been replaced by Psittacus frontalis Vieillot, 1818, the maroon-bellied parakeet.^[6][7] The genus name is from the specific epithet of Microsittace pyrrhura Bonaparte, 1854 now Pyrrhura molinae Massena & Souancé, 1854, the green-cheeked parakeet. The name combines the Ancient Greek purrhos meaning "flame-coloured" or "red" with -ouros meaning "tail".^[2]

Species

The genus contains 26 species:^[8]

• Ochre-marked parakeet, Pyrrhura cruentata
• Blaze-winged parakeet, Pyrrhura devillei
• Maroon-bellied parakeet, Pyrrhura frontalis
• Pearly parakeet, Pyrrhura lepida
• Crimson-bellied parakeet, Pyrrhura perlata
• Green-cheeked parakeet, Pyrrhura molinae
• Pfrimer's parakeet, Pyrrhura pfrimeri
• Grey-breasted parakeet, Pyrrhura griseipectus
• White-eared parakeet, Pyrrhura leucotis
• Painted parakeet, Pyrrhura picta
• Subandean parakeet, Pyrrhura subandina
• Perija parakeet, Pyrrhura caeruleiceps
• Venezuelan parakeet, Pyrrhura emma
• Santarem parakeet, Pyrrhura amazonum
• Bonaparte's parakeet, Pyrrhura lucianii
• Rose-fronted parakeet, Pyrrhura roseifrons
• Santa Marta parakeet, Pyrrhura viridicata
• Fiery-shouldered parakeet, Pyrrhura egregia
• Maroon-tailed parakeet, Pyrrhura melanura
• El Oro parakeet, Pyrrhura orcesi
• Black-capped parakeet, Pyrrhura rupicola
• White-breasted parakeet, Pyrrhura albipectus
• Flame-winged parakeet, Pyrrhura calliptera
• Blood-eared parakeet, Pyrrhura hoematotis
• Rose-crowned parakeet, Pyrrhura rhodocephala
• Sulphur-winged parakeet, Pyrrhura hoffmanni

Species photographs

• 
  Blue-throated parakeet (Pyrrhura cruentata)
• 
  Maroon-bellied parakeet
  (Pyrrhura frontalis)
• 
  Green-cheeked parakeet
  (Pyrrhura molinae)
• 
  Crimson-bellied parakeet
  (Pyrrhura perlata)
• 
  Pearly parakeet
  (Pyrrhura lepida)
• 
  Rose-crowned parakeet
  (Pyrrhura hoematotis)
• 
  Sulphur-winged parakeet
  (Pyrrhura hoffmanni)
• 
  Black-capped parakeet
  (Pyrrhura rupicola)
• 
  Domestic maroon-bellied parakeet
  (Pyrrhura frontalis)