Category Archives: Parrots

Crimson-bellied Parakeet (Pyrrhura perlata)

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The crimson-bellied parakeet (Pyrrhura perlata), more commonly known as the crimson-bellied conure in aviculture has a confusing taxonomic history. It was formerly known as Pyrrhura rhodogaster, but following a review it was discovered that the type specimen for P. perlata, long believed to belong to the closely related pearly parakeet, actually was a juvenile crimson-bellied parakeet. Consequently, P. perlata was transferred to this species, while P. rhodogaster became a junior synonym.

I got a few shots at Alta Floresta but for the close-up I have to use the Wikipedia shot.  They were being annoyingly camera shy!

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They are found exclusively in Brazil and northern Bolivia.  The easiest place to see them in the wild is the grounds of the Floresta Amazonica Hotel in Alta Floresta.

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This little guy almost looks like he is wearing a crimson coloured singlet!

If you are under 18, don’t click on this one!  Suffice to say, these birds weren’t shy!

 

 

Blue-winged Macaw (Primolius maracana)

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The Blue-winged Macaw (Primolius maracana), in aviculture more commonly known as Illiger’s Macaw, is a species of macaw found in central and eastern South America. It was previously placed in the genus Ara or Propyrrhura.

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They have a huge range over most of Brazil and the northern parts of Paraguay & Argentina.  Chapada dos Guimaraes is a reliable, easy-to-reach place to see them.  You can even see them in the car park!

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Close-ups in a nest

 

Adults only!

 

Red-shouldered Macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis)

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The Red-shouldered/Hahn’s Macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis) is a small green South American parrot whose taxonomy has been changed since we were there in 2012.  The red-shouldered macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis, Linnaeus 1758) is a member of the monotypic genus Diopsittaca (Ridgway 1912), one of 6 genera of Central and South American macaws. There are two distinct subspecies, D. n. nobilis (Hahn’s macaw) and D. n. cumanensis (noble macaw), and some with longer wings might represent a poorly differentiated subspecies, D. n. longipennis, which intergrades with D. n. cumanensis in central Goiás, Brazil.  Previously the red-shouldered macaw was included in the genus Ara.

My photos at Chapada dos Guimaraes are pretty washed out so I had to use Wikipedia’s shots for the close ups.

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They do have a large range, you can see where the northern and southern species split.  They can be seen in many places in Brazil but Chapada dos Guimaraes (green dot) is the easiest place to see them as they roost in the town square at night.

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Stunning close-ups of stunning birds!

Nesting pair

 

 

Yellow-chevroned Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri)

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The Yellow-chevroned Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri) also known as the canary-winged parakeet, is native to tropical South America south of the Amazon River basin from central Brazil to southern Bolivia, Paraguay and northern Argentina.

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I spotted this little cutie in one of the large trees at Pousada Piuval, but they are easily seen in most of the Pantanal.  Their range extends throughout most of Brazil and Bolivia, into Argentina and Paraguay.

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This little guy can’t figure out why he is the centre of attention!

And this one is hungry and wants everyone to know it!

 

Blue-crowned Parakeet (Psittacara acuticaudatus)

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The Blue-crowned Parakeet aka Blue-crowned Conure,  (Psittacara acuticaudatus) is a small green Neotropical parrot with a blue head and pale beak native to large parts of South America, from eastern Colombia in the north to northern Argentina in the south. They inhabit savanna-like habitats, woodland and forest margins, but avoid dense humid forest such as the Amazon.

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They have a large range in South America with the Pantanal being one of the easiest places to see them.  I took the above photos in the Transpantaneira region.  They are also commonly seen in Bolivia and Colombia with some feral populations in Florida.

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Lovely close-up of the birds in Colombia.

Nesting pair in Florida, check out the affectionate behaviour!

 

 

Blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva)

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The Blue-fronted Amazon (Amazona aestiva), also called the Turquoise-fronted Amazon and Blue-fronted Parrot, is a South American species of amazon parrot.  Its common name is derived from the distinctive blue marking on its head just above its beak.

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They range throughout southern South America in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay & Bolivia.  I have seen them both at the Caiman Ecological Refuge & Curicaca Wildlife Refuge in the Pantanal.

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I think this is a young one by his hesitant way of moving around.

Ready for their close-ups!

 

 

Nanday Parakeet (Aratinga nenday)

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The Nanday Parakeet (Aratinga nenday) also known as the Black-hooded Parakeet or Nanday Conure (most common name used by aviculturists) is a medium-small mostly green Neotropical parrot.  They are extremely popular as pets so most of you will be familiar with their appearance but what you may not know is that the eye-rings of the wild birds remains black.  The eye-rings of pet birds tend to be white due to lack of sun.

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Compare the dark eye-ring of the wild bird in the top photo to this one of my pet Nanday where you can clearly see the white eye-ring.

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The range of Nanday Parakeets extends from southern Brazil throughout the Pantanal region into far eastern Bolivia and down to Paraguay.  The Pantanal is the easiest place to see them and they are can usually be found in the trees around Caiman Ecological Refuge.  I have also seen feral populations of escaped/released pet birds in Florida and heard of others in California.

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Since these birds are so popular as pets it was hard to find videos of them in the wild.  Here’s a couple.

 

 

Scaly-headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani)

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The Scaly-headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani) is a species of bird in the Psittacidae family, the true parrots. It is also called scaly-headed pionus, Maximilian pionus, Maximilian parrot, Maximilian’s pionus, or Maximilian’s parrot.

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They have a large range in eastern Brazil, central and eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina.  Many people see them in the Pantanal, especially in the Caiman Ecological Refuge area.

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For some reason these birds always seem to be eating!

 

 

 

Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)

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The undisputed showstopper of the Pantanal is the magnificent Hyacinth Macaw;  native to central and eastern South America. With a length (from the top of its head to the tip of its long pointed tail) of about 100 cm (3.3 ft) it is longer than any other species of parrot. It is the largest macaw and the largest flying parrot species.

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Most people come to the Pantanal in Brazil to see them as they are very easily found.  You could also see them in far eastern Bolivia and slightly into northern Paraguay.

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Notice how the videographer approaches cautiously behind a tree?  This is how you get closer to wild birds!  The loud calls are unmistakeable.

Two gorgeous youngsters working up their courage to leave the nest!

 

My Top Twelve Bird Sightings of 2015

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After the hectic pace of last year that saw a Top Thirty Bird List, reduced travel this year sees me back to a Top Ten.  OK, so it’s a Top Twelve, I couldn’t decide between certain Aussie birds!  These aren’t the rarest birds or even new to my “Life List” but these birds are the ones that made the biggest impression on me for their beauty, personality or just because I FINALLY managed to get a decent photo of one!

  1.  BLOSSOM-HEADED PARAKEET – seen near Doi Inthanon, Thailand.

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2.  GREEN-BACKED SUNBIRD – Seen at the summit of Doi Inthanon.

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3.  BLACK-HEADED WOODPECKER – Seen in Mae Ping National Park, Thailand.

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4.  MOUSTACHED PARAKEET – Seen near Khao Yai National Park, Thailand.

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5.  LONG-TAILED PARAKEET – Seen at Taiping Lake Gardens, Malaysia.

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6.  BLUE-WINGED PITTA – Seen at Taman Negara, Malaysia

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7.  RED-RUMPED PARROT – Seen in various places around Lake Coolmunda.

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8.  STRAIATED PARDALOTE – Who can resist such a cute little show-off!

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9.  BLUEBONNET PARROT – After barely seeing one whiz by at Bowra last year, it was nice to at least see a pair fly around Mosquito Creek Road!

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10.  LITTLE LORIKEET – Yet another species that was often seen but hard to photograph, finally caught them perching at Durikai watering hole.

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11. SACRED KINGFISHER – Seen around the Coolmunda area and also near Tin Can Bay.

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12.  YELLOW-TAILED BLACK COCKATOO – Seen at the Ground Parrot area near Rainbow Beach.  Having these beautiful birds swoop so close to us after a long, hot day just really made our trip!

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