Golden-winged Parakeet

The golden-winged parakeet is about 16 cm (6.3 in) long and weighs 47 to 80 g (1.7 to 2.8 oz). The species is almost entirely green. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a browish frontal band above the bill, and orange-brown spot on the chin, and bright orange primary coverts. Subspecies B. c. tuipara has an orange frontal band and chin and yellow edges on the outer tail feathers. B. c. chrysosema has a yellowish orange frontal band and yellow primary coverts. B. c. solimoensis is like chrysosema but with a paler frontal band. B. c. tenuifrons has yellow edges on the outer tail feathers like tuipara but no frontal band. Immature birds have entirely green wings.

The subspecies of the golden-winged parakeet are found thus:

B. c. chrysoptera, from northeastern Venezuela southeast through the Guianas and into adjoining north-central Brazil B. c. tenuifrons, along the upper Rio Negro in northwestern Brazil B. c. solimoensis, north-central Brazil along the middle Amazon between the municipality of Codajás and Manaus B. c. tuipara, north-central Brazil south of the Amazon between the Tapajós River and the Atlantic coast in Maranhão B. c. chrysosema, along the Madeira River and its tributaries from northeastern Bolivia into western Brazil's Mato Grosso state In most of its range the golden-winged parakeet inhabits undisturbed lowland rainforest, secondary forest, savanna, coastal woodlands, and towns (as long as there are tall trees). North of the Orinoco River in Venezuela it inhabits cloudforest as high as 1,200 m (3,900 ft).

The golden-winged parakeet feeds mostly on flowers and their nectar; a wide variety of plant families provide them. It also feeds on seeds, berries, palm fruits, and insects and snails in still water.