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Posted by Larry Manfredi on 19:42:11 11/23/09
In Reply to: Re: White-winged Parakeets posted by Frank
It is really simple to tell the difference between Yellow-chevroned Parakeet and White-winged Parakeet. When in flight, White-winged Parakeet has a huge patch of white in the wing that can been seen on top of the wing as well as below. This is easily seen when the birds are in flight.
Yellow-chevroned Parakeets are dark below with a flash of yellow on top of the wing. The calls are different as well, but you need experience to tell them apart. I find that the White-winged Parakeet has a sharper more piercing call then the Yellow-chevroned Parakeet. I see lots of both so I can tell the difference.
When the birds are perched and seen well, the Yellow-chevroned Parakeet has a small whitish eye-ring, it is brighter green and has a small yellow wing patch. The White-winged Parakeet has "NO" eye-ring and has a slightly grayish face and never has a distinct eye-ring. It also has a yellow wing patch but it is about twice the length as the Yellow-chevroned Parakeet. You can almost always see just a little bit of white showing along the edge of the yellow wing patch. The greenish color of the body and wings is darker and not as bright as the Yellow-chevroned Parakeet.
White-winged Parakeets used to be the common parakeet in Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, Coral Cables, South Miami and many other areas. Their numbers have decreased in these areas and they are much harder to find. Perhaps in North Miami they are still holding on in better numbers. I have seen Yellow-chevroned Parakeets from Homestead to Ft. Lauderdale. Their numbers seem to be holding their own and may be increasing?
One of the biggest problems facing both species is, the competition from European Starlings and House Sparrows. Both Yellow-chevroned Parakeet and White-winged Parakeet nest almost exclusively in Canary Island Date Palms. They both borrow a nesting cavity in the soft tissue below the fronds. These holes are then used by both European Starlings and House Sparrows and occasionally Hill Mynas. The tiny parakeets have a hard time defending these holes from the above species as well has each other!
Both species from my experience, love lush suburban areas and can occur in flocks up to 100 birds. Both species roost in Royal Palms that grow in open areas away from other trees. Tall Royal Palms in parking lots are sometimes their favorite roosting areas. They will roost in these areas for several nights but then move to new areas only to come back a few days later. Another threat to both species, is the fact that Cooper's Hawks have now starting nesting in areas where the parakeets occur. Cooper's Hawk will raid feeders that both species feed at, as well as trees that they are feeding in. Even wintering Red-tailed Hawks will dive through a flock of parakeets and pick one off! It is a cruel world out there!
Larry Manfredi
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