Geophagy in pfrimer's parakeet (pyrrhura pfrimeri), a critically threatened and endemic parakeet of dry forests in central Brazil

Abstract

Geophagy refers to the behavior of ingesting soil by animals which has often been reported for parrots (Psittacidae), and is hypothesized to have a detoxifying function and/or to provide essential minerals. Here, we document this behaviour in Pfrimer's Parakeet (Pyrrhura pfrimeri), an endangered species that inhabits dry forest environments in central Brasil. Between 2012 and 2014, we observed four cases of geophagy in this species in the states of Tocantins and Goiás. All observations took place near streams where parrots were recorded scraping at limestone walls and rocky outcrops. This is the first record of geophagy for this species, besides expanding the known geographic distribution of this behavior eastwards in South America.