Behavioral Ecology of a Blue-crowned Parakeet in a Subtropical Urban Landscape Far From Its Natural Range

Authors

Daniel M. Brooks

Publication Date

9-1-2009

Abstract

I tracked an escaped captive Blue-crowned Parakeet (Aratinga acuticaudata) for several months in suburban Houston, Texas, to study aspects of its behavioral ecology. The parakeet was in flight 6% of detections and perched 94%, primarily in a tree, and less frequently on a power line or roof top. Tree species most frequently perched in were pecan (Carya illinoinensis), and less frequently in hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) or water oak (Quercus niger). The parakeet was associated with Rock Doves (Columba livia) 11 times (mean flock size ≈ 22.8, range 3–40). Total MCP home range size of perched locations was 200 m², with the main core area of use 10 m². Comparisons are made with a feral individual that lived among a flock of Red-masked Parakeets (A. erythrogenys) in San Francisco.

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Recommended Citation

Brooks, Daniel M. (2009) "Behavioral Ecology of a Blue-crowned Parakeet in a Subtropical Urban Landscape Far From Its Natural Range," Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society: Vol. 42: Iss. 2, Article 5.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tos_bulletin/vol42/iss2/5