Crimson-fronted Parakeet

Psittacara finschi

eBird describes the Crimson-fronted Parakeet like this:  Mostly green with long, pointed tail. Red forehead. In flight, look for red patch under shoulder. Almost always in small flocks, which feed inconspicuously on fruit in gardens, forest edges, and second growth. More obvious in flight; listen for grating, squeaky calls. The Birds of the World site gives this introductory information about this bird:  Green overall with conspicuous red and yellow underwing coverts, red forehead and front of lores, Crimson-fronted Parakeet is considered by some to be a subspecies of White-eyed Parakeet (Psittacara leucophthalmus) of South America. A very social species, Crimson-fronted Parakeet may join single or mixed-species feeding flocks numbering several birds, searching for fruits. It also forms communal roosts in tops of palm trees, sometimes near human habitation, although too much disturbance will cause the flock to abandon the roost site. A small number are kept in captivity and traded internationally. The main habitat of Crimson-fronted Parakeet is forest edge, and it may actually be increasing its geographic range due to deforestation.

I saw my first pair of Crimson-fronted Parakeets as I walked in downtown San Jose, Costa Rica, headed for the National Theatre and Columbian Gold Museum.  This pair was sitting on top of a two-story building, loudly and raucously calling.  I was able to get some pretty fair photographs, but their tails were not visible in any of them, nor did I observe them in flight.  Identification was a challenge for me, but I ultimately decided they were Crimson-fronted Parakeets because they exhibited the right colors and characteristics and were identified by Birds of Costa Rica as being very common in the Central Valley.  I enjoyed watching these lively and vocal characters!