The Story
I photographed this female Spectacled Parrotlet (Forpus conspicillatus) at Finca Ecoturística San Javier, in the vereda Chucuní near Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia. These small parrots eat seeds, nuts, leaves, berries and fruit in the wild, and occasionally small insects. They nest in tree cavities and typically breed between January and March. Spectacled Parrotlets are not found above about 1,600 meters. The species prefers open country to dense forest. IUCN lists it as Least Concern. The male’s brighter color and his calls help attract a female.
I made this frame with a Canon R5 and the RF 800mm f/11, at 1/1500 sec, f/11, ISO 1600. Finca San Javier offers guided birding as part of its work to help conserve the tropical dry forest of the Chucuní area.
©2021 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Spectacled Parrotlet (Forpus conspicillatus) belongs to the family Psittacidae (New World and African Parrots) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2021), with the population trend listed as decreasing. Source: IUCN Red List