Blue-Headed Parrot

Blue-Headed Parrot

Blue-headed pionus

Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Pionus menstruus
Population size
Unknown
Life Span
40 years
Weight
234-295
8.3-10.4
goz
g oz 
Length
28
11
cminch
cm inch 

The blue-headed parrot, also known as the blue-headed pionus (Pionus menstruus ) is a medium-sized parrot of about 27 cm in length. The body is mostly green, with a blue head and neck, and red undertail coverts. It is a resident in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America, from Costa Rica, Venezuela and Trinidad south to Bolivia and Brazil.

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Its habitat is forest and semi-open country, including cultivated areas. It is largely restricted to humid or semi-humid regions, but locally extends into drier habitats, at least along rivers. The blue-headed parrot lays three to five white eggs in a tree cavity.

Blue-headed parrots are noisy birds and make light, high-pitched squeaking sweenk calls. They eat fruit and seeds, and sometimes grain. They roost communally in palm and other trees, and large numbers can be seen at the roost sites at dawn and dusk.

Blue-headed pionus parrots are popular as pets. Compared to other parrot species (Amazons for example) they are very quiet. They are affectionate, but not known for their talking ability.

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Di

Diurnal

He

Herbivore

Fr

Frugivore

Gr

Granivore

Ar

Arboreal

Al

Altricial

Te

Terrestrial

So

Social

Fl

Flocking

No

Not a migrant

B

starts with

Appearance

The Blue-headed parrot, also known as the Blue-headed pionus is a medium-sized colorful parrot native to South America and southern Central America. It is mainly green with a blue head, neck and upper breast, red undertail coverts, and some yellowish on the wing coverts. The upper mandible is black with reddish areas on both sides. The male and the female are alike, and juvenile birds have less blue on the head, as well as red or pinkish feathers around the beak.

Distribution

Geography

Blue-headed parrots are residents in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America, from Costa Rica, Venezuela and Trinidad south to Bolivia and Brazil. They inhabit forest and semi-open country, including cultivated areas. These birds prefer humid or semi-humid regions, but can also be found in drier habitats, at least along rivers.

Climate zones

Habits and Lifestyle

Blue-headed parrots are noisy birds and make light, high-pitched squeaking 'sweenk' calls. They are highly gregarious and roost communally in the palm and other trees; large numbers of these bright and energetic birds can be seen at the roost sites usually at dawn and dusk. During the day Blue-headed parrots spend time in small groups, however, with the start of the breeding season they fly in large flocks and every morning travel long distances from their nesting sites to feeding areas.

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Blue-headed parrots are herbivores (frugivores, granivores). They feed on fruit, seeds, flowers, and sometimes grain.

Mating Habits

INDEPENDENT AGE
3 months
FEMALE NAME
hen
MALE NAME
cock
BABY NAME
chick
web.animal_clutch_size
3-5 eggs

Little is known about the mating season in Blue-headed parrots. However, most parrot species are monogamous and pairs mate for life. These birds nest in tree cavities and lay 3 to 5 white eggs. Females incubate their eggs for about 26 days and the chicks leave the nest about 70 days after hatching. The young become independent at 3 months of age and reach reproductive maturity when they are 2-4 years old.

Population

Population threats

In some areas of their range, Blue-headed parrots suffer from habitat loss due to deforestation and from illegal trade.

Population number

The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Blue-headed parrot total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.

Fun Facts for Kids

  • Blue-headed parrots often visit clay banks along rivers as they require minerals to neutralize toxins contained in the seeds that parrots consume in their diet.
  • Young Blue-headed parrots molt into their adult plumage at about 8 months of age, but it can take up to 2 years for the full blue hood to emerge.
  • Blue-headed parrots are popular as pets. Compared to other parrot species they are very quiet. They are affectionate, but not known for their talking ability.
  • A parrots' colorful plumage has a special bacteria-resistant pigment called Psittacofulvins. Only parrots are able to produce this pigment that gives their feathers beautiful red, yellow, and green coloration.
  • In many species of parrots, the males and females are identical and only blood tests can help to tell them apart.

References

1. Blue-Headed Parrot on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-headed_parrot
2. Blue-Headed Parrot on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/45429607/95153530
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/707116

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