Burrowing parrot
The burrowing parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus), also known as the Patagonian conure or burrowing parakeet, is a medium-sized species of parrot in the family Psittacidae, endemic to the arid and semi-arid open grasslands, shrublands, and dry woodlands of central and southern Argentina, with extensions into adjacent Chile and marginally southeastern Uruguay.[1][2][3] It is characterized by its highly social behavior, forming large flocks that forage on the ground and in vegetation for a diet primarily consisting of seeds, fruits, berries, and vegetable matter.[4][5] The species is notable for its unique nesting habits, excavating extensive burrows in sandstone or limestone cliffs, often in dense colonies that can support thousands of pairs, which provide thermoregulation and protection.[6][1] Although classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, burrowing parrot populations have experienced declines in some regions due to habitat degradation, persecution as agricultural pests, and extensive illegal capture for the pet trade, with over 122,000 wild individuals reported in international trade since its listing on CITES Appendix II in 1981.[6][1][7]Taxonomy and Systematics
Etymology and Classification
The common name burrowing parrot (also rendered as burrowing parakeet) originates from the species' specialized nesting strategy, whereby pairs and colonies excavate extensive tunnels into vertical cliff faces, riverbanks, or earthen escarpments to rear their young, a trait uncommon among parrots.[2] An alternative vernacular name, Patagonian conure, highlights its core range across the arid and semi-arid landscapes of Patagonia in southern South America.[7] The binomial Cyanoliseus patagonus stems from the species' initial scientific description by French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot in 1818, originally classified as Psittacus patagonus.[8] The genus Cyanoliseus was formalized in 1854 by Charles Lucien Bonaparte, who reassigned the species to this newly erected taxon, establishing it as a monotypic genus with no other included members.[2] The specific epithet patagonus directly references Patagonia, the ecoregion encompassing much of the bird's native habitat in Argentina and Chile.[9] Taxonomically, C. patagonus is situated in the order Psittaciformes, encompassing all parrots and cockatoos, and the family Psittacidae, the true parrots of the New World and Old World tropics.[9] Within Psittacidae, it forms a distinct lineage among the long-tailed Neotropical parrots (tribe Arini), distinguished by molecular and morphological analyses that affirm its isolated generic status.[2] Four subspecies are currently recognized, varying primarily in plumage intensity and geographic isolation: C. p. patagonus (nominate, central Patagonia), C. p. andinus (Andean slopes), C. p. conlara (west-central Argentina), and C. p. bloxami (southern populations).[8]Phylogeny and Subspecies
The burrowing parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus) occupies a monotypic genus within the Psittacidae family, subfamily Arinae, and tribe Arini, as established by molecular phylogenetic analyses of Neotropical parrots using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences. These studies position it among core Arini taxa, with evolutionary affinities to other South American conure-like genera, reflecting a shared Neotropical radiation estimated to have occurred in the Miocene. Genus-level monotypy underscores its distinct morphological and behavioral adaptations, such as burrowing nest excavation, which differentiate it from congeners in related clades.[10] Population-level phylogeny, inferred from mitochondrial DNA (e.g., cytochrome b and control region), indicates an ancestral range in central Chile, with a single eastward dispersal across the Andes approximately 120,000 years ago during the Pleistocene, leading to divergence between western and eastern lineages. The Andean cordillera subsequently imposed a strong barrier to gene flow, fostering genetic structure and a stable hybrid zone in northern Patagonia where limited admixture occurs. This vicariant pattern aligns with phylogeographic patterns in other Andean avifauna, driven by Pleistocene climate oscillations rather than recent anthropogenic factors.[11][12] Four subspecies are currently recognized, primarily distinguished by geographic isolation, subtle size variations, and minor plumage differences, though taxonomic boundaries remain under scrutiny due to ongoing gene flow in contact zones:| Subspecies | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| C. p. patagonus | Central to southeast Argentina | Nominate form; smaller size, olive-brown plumage with yellow lower back.[13][14] |
| C. p. andinus | Northwest Argentina | Adapted to Andean foothills; limited morphological data.[13][14] |
| C. p. conlara | West-central Argentina | Intermediate form in transitional habitats.[13][14] |
| C. p. bloxami | Central Chile | Largest subspecies; represents the ancestral western lineage.[13][14] |