These are not being chosen because of the amazing image quality, rather that they represent the top twenty parrot sightings I had during 2012 over trips to the Cook Islands and Brazil. Some of them like the Golden Conures, Hyacinth Macaws and Rimatara Lorikeets are very rare and endangered, most of them are secure at present and we hope they stay that way! I saw a lot more parrots than these, some of them such as Kawall’s Amazon and Hawk-headed Parrot escaped before I could get a photo. They all made a unique impression on me, especially the Golden Conures!
They are being presented in chronological order of when I first saw them.
1. Tahitian Blue Lorikeet (Vini peruviana) – seen on Aitutaki, Cook Islands, April 2012
2. Rimatara Lorikeet (Vini kuhlii) – seen on Atiu, Cook Islands, April 2012
3. Blue-throated Conure (Pyrrhura cruentata) – seen at Rio Doce, Linhares, Brazil; Sept 2012 Unfortunately, he took off before I could get a better shot.
4. White-eared Conure (Pyrrhura leucotis) – seen at Rio Doce, Linhares, Brazil; Sept 2012
5. Monk Parakeet/Quaker (Mylopsitta monachus) and Peach-fronted Conure (Aratinga aurea) – seen in the Pantanal, Brazil; Sept 2012
6. Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhyncus hyacinthius) – seen in the Pantanal, Brazil; Sept 2012
7. Yellow-chevron Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri) – seen in the Pantanal, Brazil; Sept 2012
8. Hahn’s Macaw/Red-shouldered Macaw (Ara nobilis) – seen in Chapada dos Guimaraes, Brazil; Sept 2012
9. Illiger’s Macaw/Blue-winged Macaw (Primolius maracana) – seen in Chapada dos Guimaraes, Brazil; Sept 2012
10. Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012
11. Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012
12. Madeira Parakeet (Pyrrhura snethlage) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012
13. White-bellied Caique (Pionites leucogaster) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012
14. Blue-winged Parrolet (Forpus xanthopterygius) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012
15. Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilata) – seen in Alta Floresta, Brazil; Sept 2012
16. Crimson-bellied Conure (Pyrrhura perlata) – seen at Alta Floresta, Brazil; Sept 2012
17. Santarem Conure (Pyrrhura amazonum) – seen at Amazonia National Park, Brazil; Sept 2012
18. Golden Conures (Guarouba guarouba) – seen at Amazonia National Park, Brazil; Sept 2012
19. White-eyed Conure (Aratinga leucophthalmus) – seen at Amazonia National Park, Brazil; Sept 2012
20. Orange-winged Amazons (Amazona amazonica) – seen at Parrot Island near Belem, Brazil; Sept 2012