GREY-BREASTED PARAKEET

The 'Grey-breasted Parakeet' ('''Pyrrhura griseipectus''') is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is endemic to Ceará in north-eastern Brazil and restricted to a few mountains with relatively humid forest and woodland in a region otherwise dominated by arid Caatinga.
Until recently, it was considered a subspecies of the White-eared Parakeet, as '''Pyrrhura leucotis griseipectus'''. The split was based on range and subtle differences in colour of crown, ear-coverts and chest. A recent study based on mtDNA has failed to confirm the status of the Grey-breated Parakeet as a species distinct from the White-eared Parakeet, while confirming the species status of Pfrimer's Parakeet .
This parrot is classified as Critically Endangered by BirdLife International. It has an extremely small population and occupies a very small known range. The population is estimated to be less than 250 adult birds.

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★ BirdLife Species Factsheet

★ South American Classification Comitee: Treat Pyrrhura griseipectus and P. pfrimeri as distinct species from Pyrrhura leucotis.

★ Ribas, C. C., L. Joseph, C. Y. Miyaki (2006). ''Molecular sytematics and patterns of diversification in ''Pyrrhura'' (Psittacidae), with special reference to the ''picta-leucotis'' complex.'' The Auk 123(3): 660-680.