Cobalt-winged Parakeet

The Cobalt-winged Parakeet is a small, social parrot found year-round in Ecuador’s eastern lowland forests, especially within the Amazon basin below about 1,000 meters. It is locally common in terra firme and seasonally flooded forests, often seen in noisy flocks visiting fruiting trees or clay licks along rivers, where they ingest mineral-rich soil to neutralize dietary toxins. Globally listed as Least Concern, its population is stable across a broad range, though modest declines are suspected due to habitat loss. Nesting in tree cavities, the species exhibits strong flock cohesion and rapid flight, with its cobalt-blue wing feathers flashing vividly against the green canopy.