This beautiful tropical parakeet is only known with certainty from the Sinú Valley in northern Colombia. BirdLife International estimates that if the bird is not already extinct, no more than 50 likely exist. Despite extensive searches, there have been no confirmed records of the parakeet since 1949. Scientists know very little about the Sinú Parakeet’s reproductive physiology, nutritional needs, ecology or behavior. There are 18 individuals known from four locations in Colombia, two of which have been deforested.

During a 2021 expedition to Alto Sinú in search of the lost parakeet, an expedition team found dozens of species new to Colombia’s Córdoba Department. Local communities will continue the search and Re:wild partners are hoping to get back out into the field again in 2022 for another expedition to find the lost bird.