Brown-backed Parrotlet

Open Bird Bucket List ↗

Quick Facts

Endemic
  • Scientific Name: Touit melanonotus
  • Spanish Name: Periquito dorsipardo
  • Family: Psittacidae
  • Known Nicknames: Brown-backed Parrotlet, Black-backed Parrotlet
  • Average Length: 15–16 cm / 5.9–6.3 in
  • Average Weight: 50–70 g / 1.8–2.5 oz
  • Wingspan: N/A
  • Key Feature: Brownish-black back contrasting with green body and red underwing coverts
  • Primary Diet: Primarily Frugivore
  • Range: Southeastern Brazil (Bahia to São Paulo)
  • Habitat: Montane Atlantic Forest, humid forest canopy
  • Social Structure: Small flocks or pairs
  • Nesting/Breeding: Tree cavities
  • Conservation Status: Vulnerable (VU)
  • Population Trend: Decreasing

The Brown-backed Parrotlet (*Touit melanonotus*) is a small, elusive parrot endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, celebrated for its striking contrast between a dark, chocolate-brown mantle and a vibrant green body. Unique among its genus, it features a distinctive red patch on the bend of the wing and a short, square tail tipped with yellow, while its pale, horn-colored bill and bare white eye-ring give it an alert, inquisitive expression. A special feature of this species is its strong preference for high-altitude montane forests, often foraging in noisy, swift-flying flocks for fruits and seeds, making it a rare and sought-after sight for birdwatchers due to its restricted range and declining habitat.

Fun Facts

Despite its name, the Brown-backed Parrotlet isn't just brown—its scientific name *melanonotus* means "black back," but in good light, males flash a stunning, hidden patch of bright red on their lower back and rump, a trait they share with no other Touit parrotlet. They are notorious for their bizarre, almost bat-like roosting behavior, often hanging upside-down from branches while sleeping, which may help them hide from predators or regulate body temperature. These tiny parrots also have a peculiar, high-pitched, insect-like call that sounds more like a buzzing cricket than a bird, allowing them to communicate through dense rainforest foliage without drawing attention.

Habitats & Distribution

This small parrot is endemic to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, where its distribution is highly fragmented and restricted. It inhabits montane and submontane humid forests, typically found at elevations between 500 and 1,500 meters, often in areas with dense canopy and an abundance of epiphytes and bromeliads, which provide both food and nesting sites. Its geographical range spans from southern Bahia and Minas Gerais south through Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, and into eastern São Paulo, with isolated populations also recorded in eastern Paraná and Santa Catarina. Due to severe habitat loss and fragmentation, it is now largely confined to protected areas and steep, inaccessible slopes within this narrow coastal belt.

Behaviours & Reproduction

Socially, the Brown-backed Parrotlet is typically observed in small, noisy flocks of up to 15 individuals, though pairs become highly territorial during the breeding season. Mating is monogamous, with pairs engaging in mutual preening and allofeeding to strengthen the pair bond. They nest in tree cavities, often excavating or enlarging existing holes in dead wood, and females lay a small clutch of 3–4 white eggs. A unique reproductive strategy is the high degree of parental cooperation: males guard the nest entrance and bring food to the incubating female, and both parents feed the chicks, which fledge after about 6–7 weeks. Unlike many parrots, they rarely reuse the same nest site, instead seeking new cavities each season, likely to reduce parasite loads and predation risk.

Diet

The Brown-backed Parrotlet (Touit melanonotus) is primarily frugivorous, with a diet heavily centered on the fruits and seeds of various trees and epiphytes, particularly favoring mistletoe berries which provide both nutrition and moisture. These small parrots are often observed foraging in the canopy, using their strong beaks to crack open hard seeds and extract pulp. An interesting dietary trait is their reliance on clay licks or mineral-rich soil to supplement their diet, a behavior known as geophagy, which helps neutralize toxins found in unripe fruits and seeds and provides essential salts. They also consume flowers, buds, and occasionally small insects or larvae to obtain protein, especially during the breeding season, showcasing a flexible, opportunistic feeding strategy within their Atlantic Forest habitat.

Colors

The Brown-backed Parrotlet is primarily green with a dark brown back and upperwings, a black tail tipped with yellow, and a pale yellow eye-ring. Its most unique coloration is a striking red patch on the wing coverts and a red rump, while the underparts are a lighter yellowish-green. This green body provides camouflage in the forest canopy, with the brown back blending into tree bark when viewed from above.

Distribution Map

Places linked to this species. A sighting is never guaranteed.