Appearance
The caica parrot is 23 to 25 cm long and weighs 121 to 143 g. Adults have a brownish black head with bare gray skin around the eye. They have a fulvous or golden collar on their hindneck; dark feather edges give it a scaly appearance. Their throat and upper breast are olive-brown and the rest of their body is green. Their primary coverts are dull blue, their primaries are blackish, and their tail feathers have dull blue tips. Immature birds have mostly green heads with a duller collar.Distribution
The caica parrot is found from eastern Venezuela through the Guianas into Brazil's Amapá state and south in Brazil to the Amazon River.Status
The IUCN originally assessed the caica parrot as being of Least Concern, then in 2012 as Near Threatened, and then in 2021 again as of Least Concern. It has a fairly large range and an estimated population of 250,000 mature individuals, though the latter is believed to be decreasing. "The primary threat to this species is accelerating deforestation in its range, as land is cleared for cattle ranching and soy production, facilitated by expansion of the road network." It is considered common in French Guiana but uncommon to scarce elsewhere; it does occur in "several large, strict protected areas".Habitat
It occurs almost entirely in mature "terra firme" forest, generally shunning flooded and secondary forests. In elevation it ranges up to 1,100 m.Reproduction
The caica parrot breeds between November and January in French Guiana; data are lacking for its breeding season elsewhere. The single known nest was in a tree cavity about 10 m above the ground.Food
Little is known about the caica parrot's foraging behavior or diet. It has been observed feeding on seeds and fruits.References:
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