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Difference between revisions of "Blue-headed Parrot" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Blue-headed_Parrot.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Oregonian|Oregonian}}<br />Pereira, Risaralda, [[Colombia]], May 2004]]
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[[Image:OV1A2982 filtered.jpg|thumb|450px|right|Subspecies ''rubrigularis''. Photo by {{user|Pitter|Pitter}}<br />Trujillo, Valle Del Cauca, [[Colombia]], March 2017]]
 
;[[: Category:Pionus|Pionus]] menstruus
 
;[[: Category:Pionus|Pionus]] menstruus
 +
'''Includes: Blue-breasted Parrot''' or '''Reichenow's Parrot'''
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
27cm
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24–28 cm (9½-11 in). A medium sized green amazon-type parrot with striking blue head. See also [[#Flight Action|flight action]].
*Green plumage
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*plumage green
*Blue head and neck
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*throat with reddish flecking or wholly blue (subspecies dependent)
*Red under-tail feathers
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*underparts with or without bluish flecking (subspecies dependent)
*Yellow wing coverts
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*head and neck blue or lead blue-grey (subspecies dependent)
*Black upper mandible with reddish sides
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*under-tail feathers red
*Dark ear patches<br />
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*upper wing [[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]] yellowish brown or green (subspecies dependent)
Sexes similar<br />
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* under wing green with darker (blackish) primary tips
 +
*edges of upper and lower mandible black with reddish or whitish side patches
 +
*ear patches blackish in some subspecies
 +
Sexes similar
 +
 
 
'''Juvenile'''
 
'''Juvenile'''
 
*Less blue on head
 
*Less blue on head
*Red or pink feathers around [[Topography#Heads|ceres]]
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*Red or pink feathers around [[Topography#Heads|cere]]
====Flight====
 
This bird and other members of its genus have distinctive, deep wingbeats, quite different from an ''[[: Category:Amazona|Amazona]]'' parrot.
 
 
====Similar Species====
 
====Similar Species====
 
[[White-crowned Parrot]] overlaps with the northern part of its range.
 
[[White-crowned Parrot]] overlaps with the northern part of its range.
 +
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
[[Image:Blue-headedParrots.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|Stanley+Jones|Stanley Jones}}<br /> Near Manu Wildlife Center Lodge, [[Peru]], September, 2009]]
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[[Image:Blue-headed parrot1.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Subspecies ''menstruus''. Photo by {{user|Perubirdingtours|Perubirdingtours}}<br />Tambopata, Southern [[Peru]]]]
 
[[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]]<br />
 
[[Central America|Central]] and [[South America]]<br />
 
'''Central America''': [[Nicaragua]], [[Costa Rica]], [[Panama]], [[Trinidad]]<br />
 
'''Central America''': [[Nicaragua]], [[Costa Rica]], [[Panama]], [[Trinidad]]<br />
 
'''South America''': [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]], [[Guyana]], [[Suriname]], [[French Guiana]], [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]], [[Bolivia]] and [[Brazil]].
 
'''South America''': [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]], [[Guyana]], [[Suriname]], [[French Guiana]], [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]], [[Bolivia]] and [[Brazil]].
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 +
Some authors elevate subspecies ''reichenowi'' as "Blue-breasted Parrot" or "Reichenow's Parrot", ''P. reichenowi'' (e.g. [[#References|[6]]], [[#References|[7]]]) leaving subspecies ''menstruus'' and ''rubrigularis'' in a restricted "Blue-headed Parrot", ''P. menstruus''.
 
====Subspecies====
 
====Subspecies====
There are 3 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
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Clements recognises the following subspecies [[#References|[1]]]:
*''P. m. rubrigularis'':
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*''P. m. rubrigularis'': Tropical northern [[Costa Rica]] to western [[Colombia]] and western [[Ecuador]]. [More extensively marked red on throat and duller blue than ''menstruus'']
:*Tropical northern [[Costa Rica]] to western [[Colombia]] and western [[Ecuador]]
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*''P. m. menstruus'': Eastern [[Colombia]] to the [[Guianas]], [[Trinidad]], northern [[Brazil]] and [[Bolivia]]. [dark ear patch; red flecking on throat, bluish-green tipped undertail coverts; lesser wing coverts yellowish brown]
*''P. m. menstruus'':
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*''P. m. reichenowi'': "'''Blue-breasted Parrot'''". Coastal north-eastern Brazil (Alagoas to Espírito Santo) [upperpart blue duller, darker, more grey without red flecks; lower underparts paler/brighter blue from blue suffusion; no obvious dark ear patch; red undertail coverts with blue tips]
:*Eastern [[Colombia]] to the [[Guianas]], [[Trinidad]], northern [[Brazil]] and [[Bolivia]]
 
*''P. m. reichenowi'':
 
:*Coastal north-eastern Brazil (Alagoas to Espírito Santo)
 
  
Two additional subspecies ''chlorocyanescens'' and ''cyanescens'' are generally considered invalid<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>.
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Most authors consider the subspecies ''chlorocyanescens'' and ''cyanescens'' are invalid [[#References|[2]]].
 +
 
 +
(subspecies descriptions based on [[#References|[8]]], modified with reference to Macauley Images and [[#References|[7]]])
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
 
A wide variety of woodland and forest habitats, suburban gardens and mixed agricultural areas. Lowland rainforest in the tropical zone. Observerved at heights between 290m and 1400m.  
 
A wide variety of woodland and forest habitats, suburban gardens and mixed agricultural areas. Lowland rainforest in the tropical zone. Observerved at heights between 290m and 1400m.  
Line 40: Line 44:
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
 
It nests in a tree cavity; the clutch consists of 3-5 white eggs.
 
It nests in a tree cavity; the clutch consists of 3-5 white eggs.
 +
====Flight Action====
 +
This bird and other members of its genus have distinctive, deep wingbeats, quite different from an ''[[: Category:Amazona|Amazona]]'' parrot.
 
==References==
 
==References==
#{{Ref-Clements6thDec10}}#Avibase
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#{{Ref-Clements6thOct22}}#Avibase
 +
#Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved March 2017)
 
#Wikipedia
 
#Wikipedia
#BF Member observations
+
#Birdforum Member observations
 +
#{{Ref-BirdlifeChecklistV7_22}}#{{Ref-RidgelyGwynne16}}#{{Ref-ForeshawKnight10}}
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 +
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Pionus+menstruus}}  
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{{GSearch|"Pionus menstruus" {{!}} "Blue-headed Parrot"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
 +
<br />
 +
<br />
 +
 
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Pionus]]
 
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Pionus]]

Latest revision as of 21:34, 20 September 2023

Subspecies rubrigularis. Photo by Pitter
Trujillo, Valle Del Cauca, Colombia, March 2017
Pionus menstruus

Includes: Blue-breasted Parrot or Reichenow's Parrot

Identification

24–28 cm (9½-11 in). A medium sized green amazon-type parrot with striking blue head. See also flight action.

  • plumage green
  • throat with reddish flecking or wholly blue (subspecies dependent)
  • underparts with or without bluish flecking (subspecies dependent)
  • head and neck blue or lead blue-grey (subspecies dependent)
  • under-tail feathers red
  • upper wing coverts yellowish brown or green (subspecies dependent)
  • under wing green with darker (blackish) primary tips
  • edges of upper and lower mandible black with reddish or whitish side patches
  • ear patches blackish in some subspecies

Sexes similar

Juvenile

  • Less blue on head
  • Red or pink feathers around cere

Similar Species

White-crowned Parrot overlaps with the northern part of its range.

Distribution

Subspecies menstruus. Photo by Perubirdingtours
Tambopata, Southern Peru

Central and South America
Central America: Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Trinidad
South America: Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil.

Taxonomy

Some authors elevate subspecies reichenowi as "Blue-breasted Parrot" or "Reichenow's Parrot", P. reichenowi (e.g. [6], [7]) leaving subspecies menstruus and rubrigularis in a restricted "Blue-headed Parrot", P. menstruus.

Subspecies

Clements recognises the following subspecies [1]:

  • P. m. rubrigularis: Tropical northern Costa Rica to western Colombia and western Ecuador. [More extensively marked red on throat and duller blue than menstruus]
  • P. m. menstruus: Eastern Colombia to the Guianas, Trinidad, northern Brazil and Bolivia. [dark ear patch; red flecking on throat, bluish-green tipped undertail coverts; lesser wing coverts yellowish brown]
  • P. m. reichenowi: "Blue-breasted Parrot". Coastal north-eastern Brazil (Alagoas to Espírito Santo) [upperpart blue duller, darker, more grey without red flecks; lower underparts paler/brighter blue from blue suffusion; no obvious dark ear patch; red undertail coverts with blue tips]

Most authors consider the subspecies chlorocyanescens and cyanescens are invalid [2].

(subspecies descriptions based on [8], modified with reference to Macauley Images and [7])

Habitat

A wide variety of woodland and forest habitats, suburban gardens and mixed agricultural areas. Lowland rainforest in the tropical zone. Observerved at heights between 290m and 1400m.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet includes fruit, seed and grain.

Breeding

It nests in a tree cavity; the clutch consists of 3-5 white eggs.

Flight Action

This bird and other members of its genus have distinctive, deep wingbeats, quite different from an Amazona parrot.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Avibase
  3. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved March 2017)
  4. Wikipedia
  5. Birdforum Member observations
  6. HBW and BirdLife International (2022) Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Version 7. Available at: http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v7_Dec22.zip
  7. Ridgely R.S., Gwynne J.A., Tudor, G., & Argel, M. (2016). Wildlife Conservation Society Birds of Brazil: The Atlantic Forest of Southeast Brazil, including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. VOLUME 2 (WCS Birds of Brazil Field Guides). Comstock Publishing Associates. ISBN 978-1501704536
  8. Forshaw, J.M. & Knight, F. (2010). Parrots of the World. Princeton Field Guides. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0691142852.

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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