Cactus Parakeet

The Caatinga parakeet is about 25 cm (9.8 in) long. The sexes are alike. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a pale brown forecrown, cheeks, throat, sides of the neck, and breast. Bare whitish skin surrounds their eye. Their belly and vent area are yellow-orange. Their nape, ear coverts, upperparts, and tail are green. Their wings are mostly green with bluish flight feathers. Immature birds are similar to adults but have a completely green crown and duller underparts. Subspecies E. c. caixana has the same plumage pattern as the nominate but is overall paler.

The subspecies E. c. caixana is the more northerly of the two. It is found in northeastern Brazil from Maranhão east to the Atlantic Ocean and south as far as northwestern Bahia. The nominate subspecies is found in east-central Brazil south of the São Francisco River in Bahia and Minas Gerais. The species inhabits pristine and second-growth caatinga, a dry landscape characterized by thorny vegetation, shrubs, and succulents. It also occurs in cerrado and moister woodlands.

The diet has not been fully investigated. It is known to feed on fruits of figs (Ficus), cactus, and several other plants. It has been reported feeding on flower buds. It also feeds on crops like rice, maize and sorghum.