Order
Psittaciformes
Family
Psittacidae
Genus
Guaruba
 
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Version 1.0

This is a historic version of this account.  Current version

SPECIES

Golden Parakeet Guaruba guarouba

Thiago O. Laranjeiras
Version: 1.0 — Published April 4, 2011

Breeding

Introduction

Time of reproduction


The breeding period is from late November to early April, but some variability in the dates is expected to occur (Oren and Novaes 1986, Laranjeiras 2008a). In captivity, incubation stage takes about 30 days, and the nestlings reach the adult body mass within the first 60 days. The post-reproductive period, when first year juveniles can be seen in the flocks at feeding sites, is from April to August (Laranjeiras 2008a).

Nest sites


Golden Parakeets nest in cavities in high and isolated trees in open areas near continuous forest (Oren and Novaes 1986, Laranjeiras 2008a). The nest tree is usually the roost tree. Reported nests inside continuous forest, identified by local hunters (Oren and Novaes 1986), never were confirmed by ornithologists.


The most frequent nest trees for Golden Parakeet  are trees that are dead but still standing (Laranjeiras 2008a). Standing dead trees are abundant in newly deforested areas in the Amazon, and also are easier to excavate by the parakeets. Apparently, there is no selection concerning the tree species, and nests has been found in tachí (Sclerobium sp.), muiricatiara (Astronium lecointei: Anacardiacae), angelim (Dinizia exclesa), itauba (Mezialurus itauba: Lauraceae), amarelão (Aspidosperma vargasii: Apocynaceae), ipê-branco (Tabebuia roseoalba: Bignoniaceae), as well as in unidentified tree species (Oren and Novaes, 1986, Yamashita and França 1991, Silveira and Belmonte 2005, Laranjeiras 2008a). Also, the structure of the nest trees is varied, and the nest entrances usually are multiple, elevated (above 15 m), and located either on the branches or on the main trunk (Laranjeiras 2008a).
 Aspects of a Golden Parakeet's nest site in Amazonia National Park. (C) Thiago Laranjeiras

Examples of trees used by Golden Parakeets for nesting in Amazonia National Park. (C) Thiago Laranjeiras

Prospecting for nest sites and nest site re-use


During 2007, in western Pará, I observedded nest prospecting by Golden Parakeet flocks. One or more individuals of the flock explores the cavity and branches of the tree, walking around the entrance, while the other members of the flock remain vigilant and continue to vocalize. A parakeet may spent several minutes in this prospecting behavior, usually in the late afternoon. In all cases that I witness, at dusk the birds left the prospective nest tree and flew to a previous roost site.


The flock seems also to reuse the roost/nest tree in subsequent years. In Amazonia National Park, there is a nest site where the parakeets have been sighted year after year since 2004. Even if the tree is cut down or the place is burned, the parakeets remain in the vicinity or chose a nearby tree for roosting.

Clutch, brood and fledging

Data on clutch, brood and fledging from field are scarce. Hunters reported from 2 to 9 chicks in nests of large flocks and from 2 to 3 in nests of single pairs (Oren and Novaes 1986). In a cut-down tree found in western Pará, previously used by a flock with 6 individuals, there were two broken eggs (Laranjeiras 2008b). Also in western Pará, the numbre of first year juveniles in flocks usually was 2, and never more than 4 (Laranjeiras 2008a). For other localities, recent observations have not found first year juveniles in the flocks (Reynolds 2003). In captivity, large and variable clutch and brood size are reported (up 20 for groups with multiple pairs and from 1 to 4 for single pairs).

Recommended Citation

Laranjeiras, T. O. (2011). Golden Parakeet (Guaruba guarouba), version 1.0. In Neotropical Birds Online (T. S. Schulenberg, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/nb.golpar3.01