biology

Pfrimer's parakeet

Pfrimer's parakeet is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Pfrimer's parakeet rather than just read about it. In short: Pfrimer's parakeet (Pyrrhura pfrimeri) is a non-migratory species within the parrot family Psittacidae. It also is known as Pfrimer's conure, Goias parakeet, and maroon-faced conure.

Key takeaways

Pfrimer's parakeet belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Pfrimer's parakeet to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Pfrimer's parakeet from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Pfrimer's parakeet (Pyrrhura pfrimeri) is a non-migratory species within the parrot family Psittacidae. It also is known as Pfrimer's conure, Goias parakeet, and maroon-faced conure. The Pfrimer's parakeet has been qualified as endangered by the IUCN and BirdLife International since 2007. It is endemic to the Goiás and Tocantins regions of Brazil. It is mainly found within a belt of dry deciduous and semi-deciduous areas of the Caatinga forest. It was considered a subspecies of the white-eared parakeet, as Pyrrhura leucotis pfrimeri. The split was based on range, differences in habitat and distinctive differences in plumage (it is the only member of the P. leucotis complex where the pale patch on the ear-coverts is greatly reduced). A recent study based on mtDNA has confirmed its status as a distinct species. The population of Pfrimer's parakeet is currently decreasing, with a current population of between 20,000 and 49,000 individuals. The main factor behind the decreasing population is deforestation for agriculture. Individuals have an average lifespan of 6–8 years.

Morphology Adult and juvenile Pfrimer's parakeet look similar in plumage. They have brown and red faces and ear coverts, with a blue crown. They have white or grey eye rings surround their brown or orange eyes above their gray or black beaks. Their necks are covered in green or blue feathers. The breasts are colored blue or green with hints of white and brown, while their abdomen is brown/red. The wings have a blend of red, green, and blue. Their tails are typically seen to be maroon with a green base. Adult Pfrimer's parakeets grow up to a size of around 22–23 cm (8.5–9 ins) including the tail.

Range Pfrimer's parakeet is endemic to Caatinga forest of the Goiás and Tocantins states of Brazil. These birds are known to be found up to 600 m up in deciduous or semi-deciduous forests. According to the BirdLife International and the IUCN they have an estimated extent of occurrence up to 20,300 km2. The range of this bird is severely fragmented due to habitat loss and ecosystem degradation. This is partly why BirdLife International has listed this species as Endangered.

Ecology

Behavior These social birds can usually be found in flocks that can consist of up to 10 birds. These flocks are typically noisy when in flight but will be quiet when resting or feeding in the canopy.

Breeding The breeding season for is thought to start in April and continue until June. Adult Pfrimer's parakeets typically have around 3–8 eggs per nest.

Diet The diet of Pfrimer's parakeet is mostly made up of fruits, berries, and seeds; though they have been known to eat certain flowers, insects, and their larvae.

Conservation

Threats Currently the Pfrimer's parakeet is Endangered. Since they only live within a small area human activities affecting their habitat are devastating. Currently there are anywhere from 20,000 to 49,000 individuals living in Brazil. This number is decreasing as deforestation and habitat degradation increase within their range. Anthropogenic activities, such as agriculture, mining, and hunting are reasons as to why the population is currently decreasing. According to the IUCN there has been a 66% decrease in its natural habitat within the last 31 years due to deforestation. This deforestation is typically through selective logging, fires, and the conversation of forested land to meadows.

Use and trade Pfrimer's parakeet is not threatened by trade of exotic species as much as other exotic species but is still captured for this purpose on occasion.

Conservation actions in place Currently the only action in the conservation of this species is some protection of its native habitat. Other than this there are no major conservation plans in place are specifically for the Pfrimer's parakeet in place.

Conservation/research needed More general research is needed for Pfrimer's parakeet. Little research has been done on this species and therefore reliable information and sources are uncommon. The IUCN currently has the largest source of data on the Pfrimer's parakeet, but other sources should as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and BirdLife International are lacking in complete information. The habitat of Pfrimer's parakeet shrinks by 2.1% each year and is in dire need of conservation. Logging and agriculture interests are currently the main threats against this species, which it needs protection from.

References

External links BirdLife Species Factsheet South American Classification Committee: Treat Pyrrhura griseipectus and P. pfrimeri as distinct species from Pyrrhura leucotis. Ribas, C. C., L. Joseph, C. Y. Miyaki (2006). Molecular systematics and patterns of diversification in Pyrrhura (Psittacidae), with special reference to the picta-leucotis complex. The Auk 123(3): 660–680.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Pfrimer's parakeet

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Pfrimer's parakeet claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Pfrimer's parakeet before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Pfrimer's parakeet ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Pfrimer's parakeet

In research: Pfrimer's parakeet appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Pfrimer's parakeet in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Pfrimer's parakeet is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Birds described in 1920, Birds of the Caatinga, Endemic birds of Brazil, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Pfrimer's parakeet outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Pfrimer's parakeet in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Pfrimer's parakeet means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Pfrimer's parakeet out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Pfrimer's parakeet in simple terms?

Pfrimer's parakeet (Pyrrhura pfrimeri) is a non-migratory species within the parrot family Psittacidae. It also is known as Pfrimer's conure, Goias parakeet, and maroon-faced conure.

Why does Pfrimer's parakeet matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Pfrimer's parakeet?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Pfrimer's parakeet.