Psittaciformes - Leptosittaca

Golden Plumed Parakeet - Leptosittaca Branickii - Vulnerable

The golden-plumed parakeet (Leptosittaca branickii) is a Neotropical parrot species within the family Psittacidae, belonging to the monotypic genus Leptosittaca. This somewhat Aratinga-like species is found in humid temperate highland forests, especially with Podocarpus, on the east Andean slope in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It is rare locally and uncommon in aviculture. There are an estimated 7000 individuals left in the wild. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is the only known parakeet subspecies that can detect ultraviolet radiation.