Large-billed parrotlets are typically long and weigh about. Their bodies are mostly yellow-green. Eyes are dark brown and beaks and feet are light peach. Large-billed parrotlets are sexually dimorphic: males have blue rumps and lower backs, with blue feathers along the leading edges of their wings and blue secondaries; primary coverts are blue-gray. Females have no blue feathers and a yellow-green belly.
Distribution and habitat
Large-billed parrotlets are found in southeastern Colombia to northern Peru and westernBrazil. There is a small population on São Sebastião Island. Though they do not fully migrate, it has been suggested that large-billed parrotlets are altitudinal migrants: abundance of the species in lowland areas increased during winter and spring; this is likely because during these seasons, the main plants of the large-billed parrotlets' diet were budding and providing more food. Large-billed parrotlets tend to inhabit forest edges, riparianwoodlands, and degraded or deforested areas.
Conservation
This species is currently unrecognized by the IUCN Red List, so it does not have an official conservation status. Its populations are included in estimates of blue-winged parrotlets, which are listed as Least Concern with a stable population. It is suggested that the population of large-billed parrotlets is relatively low
Behavior and ecology
Social
Like all members of the genus Forpus, large-billed parrotlets are highly gregarious and are often seen in flocks of up to 100 birds.
Reproduction
Large-billed parrotlets nest in tree cavities or similar places. They have been known to use the abandoned nests of rufous horneros and other unrelated species. Females lay 3-7 small whiteeggs, which are incubated for approximately 18 days before hatching.
Diet
Large-billed parrotlets feed on seeds, fruits, flowers, buds, and other plants. They favor palm, Cecropia sp., Handroanthus serratifolius flowers and nectar, and Ceiba speciosa fruits.
Taxonomy
According to most studies, the large-billed parrotlet is considered a subspecies of the blue-winged parrotlet as Forpus xanthopterygius crassirostris. However, there are some studies that argue that its morphological differences support the existence of the large-billed parrotlet as its own species, F. crassirostris. There is continuing debate over the validity of this claim. Most taxonomic authorities do not recognize this change in classification.
