Painted parakeet
The painted parakeet ("Pyrrhura picta"), more commonly known as the painted conure in aviculture, is a species of bird in the family Psittacidae, the true parrots. Its taxonomy is highly complex, and has undergone significant changes in recent years. As here defined, it is restricted to forests in northern South America (north of the Amazon River) and Panama. Some of the taxa here included in the painted parakeet are highly endangered. Taxonomy and distribution. Traditionally, the painted parakeet included the Santarém parakeet ("P. amazonum"), Bonaparte's parakeet ("P. lucianii") and rose-fronted parakeet ("P. roseifrons") as subspecies. Following  a review in 2002, it was recommended treating these as separate species. In 2006, a study based on mtDNA confirmed that the "traditional" painted parakeet was polyphyletic, as "P. p. picta" was closer to the taxon "emma" (traditionally considered a subspecies of the white-eared parakeet, "P. leucotis") than it was to "amazonum" and "roseifrons". The taxon "lucianii" was not sampled, but based on plumage and biogeography it likely falls between "P. amazonum" and "P. roseifrons". In 2002 it had also been recommended treating the Azuero parakeet ("P. eisenmanni"), Sinú parakeet ("P. subandina") and Todd's/Perijá parakeet ("P. caeruleiceps") as  separate species. Of these, only "eisenmanni" was sampled in 2006, where it, although with low bootstrap support, was found to be relatively close to "P. p. picta", and arguably should be retained as a subspecies of the painted parakeet. Based on plumage and biogeography, "caeruleiceps" and "subandina" are likely also part of this group. Consequently, the South American Classification Committee voted for treating these as subspecies of the painted parakeet. The IOC has also split the Venezuelan parakeet from this species, but other authorities, including the American Ornithological Society have not followed. Following this treatment, the painted parakeet includes the  following subspecies: Nevertheless, the possibility that some of the above are separate biological species cannot be discounted at present. It has been suggested that "auricularis" should be considered a synonym of "emma", but a recent review has suggested that "auricularis" is valid, and consequently it has tentatively been included here. Another taxon, "pantchenkoi", has often been considered a valid subspecies or rarely even a separate species, but recent opinion is that it is a synonym of "caeruleiceps". Description. The painted parakeet has a total length of approximately . As other members of the genus "Pyrrhura", it has a relatively long  pointed tail and a mainly green plumage. The rump, central belly and tip to the tail are maroon-red, and the primary-coverts and outer webs of the primaries are blue. Except for "subandina" and some "eisenmanni", adults of all subspecies have red to the leading edge of the wing, but this is often difficult to see (especially when perched). The feathers on the chest are dark with broad whitish-grey tips, resulting in a distinctly scaled effect. Depending on subspecies, the face and cheeks are dusky-maroon to maroon-red (sometimes with a bit of blue on the lowermost  part), except in "subandina" where the cheeks are bluish-green. The ear-coverts are whitish to yellowish-buff. They have blue to the forecrown and nape, although the extent of this varies and blue to the foreground is typically barely visible in "eisenmanni". The iris is generally reported and shown as being brown or dark, but at least "eisenmanni" and "caeruleiceps" can have light cream irides. Status. Overall, this species remains widespread and relatively common, and consequently it is considered to be of least concern by BirdLife International and IUCN. The situation for the taxa in north-western South America  ("caeruleiceps" and "subandina") and Panama ("eisenmanni") is more problematic, as all have restricted distributions within regions with extensive habitat destruction, and are also threatened by capture for the parrot trade. The taxon "eisenmanni" is believed to have a population of a less than 2000 individuals, but it remains locally relatively common, and a part of its range is within protected areas. Living individuals of the taxon "caeruleiceps" were only photographed for the first time in 2007, and the only relatively well-known population (in Norte de Santander) has been estimated to consist of at least 55 individuals. Little is known  about the status of "caeruleiceps" elsewhere, but in 2011 two previously unknown populations, likely numbering less than 120 individuals in total, were discovered in the Cesar Department. Despite surveys specifically aimed at finding the taxon "subandina", there are no recent records and it is possibly extinct.