Diet of the Yellow-chevroned Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri) in an urban environment where it has been introduced

Abstract

The Yellow-chevroned Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri) is a psittacid species widely distributed in South America, introduced in northeastern Buenos Aires Province. However, knowledge of its trophic ecology, particularly in urban areas where it has been introduced, is scarce. Through focal observations, we document the consumption of eight plant species and the foraging behavior of the Yellow-chevroned Parakeet in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province. Two of these species were native (Syagrus romanzoffiana, and Erythrina crista-galli), whereas the other six were introduced ornamentals (Ceiba speciosa, Phoenix canariensis, Hibiscus syriacus, Hovenia dulcis, Tipuana tipu, and Araucaria angustifolia). Its foraging behavior was typical of other psittacids, displaying three main behaviors: (1) pecking the fruit attached to the plant, (2) removing the fruit from the plant with the bill and consuming it, and (3) removing the fruit with the bill and holding it with the foot while it was pecked. These observations show the importance of diverse fruits, seeds and flowers of both native and introduced plants for their diet in their exotic distribution area, and highlight the need to carry out studies and monitor their populations taking into account their growth and demographic expansion in the region.