--To my knowledge
copulation in the Maroon-tailed Parakeet (Pyrrhura melanura) has not been described in the literature. The
following is a description of this behavior I watched on 25 January 1976 near Campamiento Chamusa on the
Duda River, La Macarena National Park, Meta, Colombia (2ø42'N, 74ø10'W; alt. 250 m). The birds were
observed at less than 30-m distance with the aid of 12 x binoculars.
At 0723 two Maroon-tailed Parakeets landed 20 m above the ground in the dead branches of a living tree
on the south bank of the Duda River. The birds were 1.5-2 m apart. At 0725 the male flew over to join the
female. Mutual body grooming of the neck and back began immediately and continued for 1 min. At 0726
the female presented herself to the male by stretching out, on top of and parallel to the supporting branch,
with her posterior toward the male. The male quickly mounted the female by stepping up onto her rump and
lower back, placing his long pointed tail downward on the right side of the female's body. The female then
moved her tail outward to the left side, facilitating the placement of the male's cloaca in contact with hers.
During copulation the male's tail and lower back rotated slowly in a clockwise direction and he ruffled the
female's neck feathers with his bill. The female responded to the male's behavior by remaining still and
emitting approximately 12 low "cooing" calls. At 0728:30 the male dismounted to the rear after being on top
of the female for 2.5 min. He immediately "pumped" his head and neck, with the feathers ruffed, up and
down vigorously 7 or 8 times. Both birds returned to normal perching positions. The male initiated mutual
grooming again, which lasted for about 30 sec. At 0729 both birds moved apart, began low raucous calling
and flew away simultaneously across the river to the north. The female flew slightly ahead of the
male.--THOMAS O. LEMKE, Institute for the Development of Renewable Natural Resources (INDERENA ),
Smithsonian-Peace Corps Environmental Program, % American Embassy, Bogotd, Colombia. Ac-
cepted 7 July 76.