Length: 45 cm (18 ins), wing length 232 - 252 mm (9 - 10 ins)
Distribution: breeds in Cordoba and Chubut north to southern Neugu‚n and southern Buenos Aires, Argentina; southern population moves in winter north to Mendoza, Entre Rios and Uruguay.
Habitat: all types of open country; prefers dry regions with thornbush and cactus near water courses to 2,000 m (6,700 ft); regularly found on agricultural land.
Status: patagonus common, but marked population decline in some localities because of trapping for trade and persecution as pest; andinus common in localities; byroni very endangered and with population estimated at 4,000 birds in 12 breeding colonies; main cause trapping and nest-robbing by local people.
Habits: in groups of 8 to 40 birds outside breeding season, but flocks of over 1,000 birds also observed; pairs easily discernible within flock; conspicuous because of extremely loud screeching; active; agile climber in branches of bushes; not shy and can be approached; if disturbed entire flock flies off screeching loudly; more cautious when foraging on ground; one bird stands guard and warns rest of flock if necessary; plumage provides excellent camouflage on ground; visits water courses early in morning to drink; then forages for food; rests during hot midday hours; resumes foraging during afternoon; then flies to roosting sites at considerable height and in long-drawn, irregular formation; roosts at night in tall trees or in holes in sandstone cliffs; occasionally also on telephone lines near towns; seen approaching sleeping burrows and flying straight in with wings folded; also observed flying at night; seasonal migrations; flies north in cold weather to warmer climate; regular, straight flight accompanied by loud screeching; low level for short distances at between 2 m (6 ft) and 10 m (33 ft) above ground; call raucous croaking or shrill screech.
Natural diet: seeds (thistle and wild squash), berries, nuts, fruits and vegetable matter; flocks regularly forage in grain and maize fields.
Breeding behaviour: breeding season for patagonus and andinus from December or January; byroni from September; nests very high in sandstone or limestone cliffs with good view over lake orriver at base of cliff; excavates burrow 8 cm (3 ins) to 18 cm (7 ins) wide and up to 3 m (10 ft) long; terminates in nest chamber approx. 40 cm (16 ins) deep and 15 cm (6 ins) high; breeds in colonies; nest burrows often very close together and interconnected as burrows run in zigzag; clutch 2 to less often 3 eggs; pieces of rotten wood carried in as nest lining; egg measures 36.4 x 29.4 mm (1.43 x 1.16 ins).
Aviculture: cautious parakeet with often very noisy; newly imported bird shy; does not become so confiding to keeper as other neotropical parakeets; enjoys bathing; occasionally hard chewer, but often does not chew at all; provide rotten tree stump for chewing; can be kept in spacious communal aviary with Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), Slender-billed Conure (Enicognathus leptorhynchus), Austral Conure (Enicognathus ferrugineus) as well as own kind; can often not assert itself with other, even smaller parakeets; breeding pairs can on other hand be very aggressive to other birds in aviary during breeding period; very slow to adapt to new surroundings; occasionally takes long time to move from outside flight into inside aviary; likes being on ground.
Accommodation: flight 4 x 1.5 x 2 m (12 x 4.5 x 6 ft) with adjoining shelter; spacious communal aviary also possible; allow 2 sq. metres (22 sq. ft) per pair; can be left in outside flight all year.
Diet: seed mix of safflower, hemp, wheat, oats, canary grass seed, rowanberries, sunflower and various millets; soaked pigeon food in summer; softened maize and soya bean; fruit and vegetables (half-ripe maize, rose-hips, elderberries); greenfood (chickweed, dandelion, etc.); regular vitamin and mineral supplements; white bread, biscuit and eggfood for rearing; tendency to biased diet; often very conservative in feeding habits.
Breeding in aviculture: often achieved, also in colony system; however breeding in pairs more successful; breeds mostly from March to May; clutch 2 to 5 eggs; usually 3 to 4 eggs; incubation time 23 to 24 days; fledging period 8 weeks; not all hatchlings reared; occasionally sensitive to nest box inspection; pairs often take years to breed; nest box 35 x 35 x 60 cm (14 x 14 x 24 ins).
