The Pacific parakeet or Nicaraguan green conure (''Psittacara strenuus'') is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

parakeet A parakeet is any one of many small to medium-sized species of parrot, in multiple Genus, genera, that generally has long tail feathers. Etymology and naming The name ''parakeet'' is derived from the French wor''perroquet'' which is reflec ...

. Some ornithologists consider it a

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

of the

green parakeet The green parakeet (''Psittacara holochlorus'') is a medium-sized parrot occurring in North and Central America, from the southernmost tip of Texas south to northern Nicaragua. Description The green parakeet is 32 cm in length, and is mos ...

(''Psittacara holochlorus''), however it is considered a full species according to the

IOC World Bird List ''Birds of the World: Recommended English Names'' is a paperback book, written by Frank Gill and Minturn Wright on behalf of the International Ornithologists' Union. The book is an attempt to produce a standardized set of English names for all b ...

. This bird is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to a small area in western

Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the cou ...

, the Chocoyero-El Brujo Natural Reserve. Nesting sites lie within this protected area, but the birds still face threats from the outside world when they leave the reserve to feed. Nonetheless, its population is considered not immediately threatened (especially compared to some of its relatives such as the

Socorro parakeet The Socorro parakeet (''Psittacara brevipes'') is a species of parrot endemic to Socorro Island in the Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico. Some ornithologists consider it to be a subspecies of the green parakeet (''Psittacara holochlorus''). Its natur ...

), and when

BirdLife BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats. BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding i ...

and the

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

considered it a good species, it was listed as 'least concern'.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q892008 Pacific parakeet Pacific parakeet Birds of Nicaragua Pacific parakeet Taxa named by Robert Ridgway