Foothills of the Southern Andes
From North to South, the longest mountain range in the world – the Andes – stretches across South America. The foothills of their southern portions have several common denominators: cold winters, changeable weather and frequently also strong winds. The parrots that live here are therefore among the hardiest.
Photo: Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
The territory lies mostly in the area of what is called Patagonia and extends between the subtropical and temperate climate zones. High mountains stand in the way of the rain clouds that bring moisture from the ocean to the west, so it is significantly dry to the east of the ridges of the Southern Andes. The predominant type of environment here is the cold, wind-swept Patagonian steppe.
In contrast, the western slopes of the Southern Andes enjoy abundant rainfall, with numerous river valleys found here. Temperatures in the southernmost regions are low throughout the year and there are temperate rainforests, while the more northern regions fall into the subtropical zone: winters are rainy and cold, but summers are warm and dry. The predominant vegetation is Mediterranean-type woody species, such as cypresses.
One conspicuous inhabitant of the open countryside is the Burrowing Parrot, whose plentiful flocks dig nesting burrows in the cliffs along the rivers. Among the other bird inhabitants worth mentioning are the widespread Elegant Crested Tinamou and the charming Upland Goose. The unmistakable, majestic Andean Condor (one of the world’s largest flying birds) soars in the sky.
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