Localities: Slender-billed conure is endemic to Chile, and it can be found in Chiloé National Park, Chiloé, and Cerro Ñielol National Park, Temuco City, Arauania, Chile. A noisy parakeet is a playful and good-talking bird with the ability to be part of flocks or families.
Identification: Slender-billed conure (Enicognathus leptorhynchus) is a South American macaw. It is medium-sized but larger than E. ferrugineus, with an elongated, less-curved upper mandible; crimson-red lores and a frontal band extending beneath and behind the eye, restricted to the forehead and lores in juveniles; and a brownish-red patch on the center of the abdomen.
Therefore, the tail is brownish red; the eye rings are pink-gray; pale gray in juveniles; screeching in flight; harsh scraar; scraart when perched. Favors Nothofagus forests and, in the late summer, is attracted to ripening Araucaria cones.
Habitat: Its main habitats are temperate forests, with more social birds and flocks seen in large numbers, not afraid of humans. It is possible to see them in numerous flocks at all times, either between the branches of the trees or in the soil, eating seeds and maintaining gabble every so often. Whereas the flock eats, sentries located in the branches observe the surroundings.
Distribution: The bird is found in central Chmile, from Aconcagua south to Isla de Chiloé and occasionally northern Aisén; up to 2000 meters; common.
Similar Species: Austral Conure E. ferrugineus is very similar in field but appears duller green and more heavily “barred”; dull brownish frontal band not extending beneath or behind eye; short upper mandible.
Status: The macaw population is stable and considered the least concerning on the IUCN Red List.
Nest & Eggs: The parakeet builds nests in the holes of the trees, to a considerable height of the soil. On average, the clutch contains 3 to 6 white eggs, opaque and rounded, with an average size of 34 x 27 mm. The incubation period is 26 to 27 days. The breeding season is from November to December.
Other Names: Slender-billed conure is also called slender-billed parakeet or long-billed parakeet. The local name is “choroy”.
Size: Slender-billed conure is about 40–42 cm in length.
