The Story
I photographed this Spectacled Parrotlet (Forpus conspicillatus) at Finca Ecoturística San Javier, in the vereda Chucuní near Ibagué, Tolima, Colombia. It is found in Colombia, Venezuela, Panama and Ecuador and does not occur above about 1,600 meters. Because it prefers open habitat to dense forest, its populations are stable and possibly increasing, and there are many protected areas across its range. It feeds on seeds, berries and fruit, and occasionally small insects. 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 1/250 sec, f/11, ISO 800. 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