My Top Twenty Parrot Sightings Of 2012

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

Tahitian Blue Lorikeet (Vini peruviana)

Tahitian Blue Lorikeet (Vini peruviana)

2.  Rimatara Lorikeet (Vini kuhlii) – seen on Atiu, Cook Islands, April 2012

Rimatara Lorikeet (Vini kuhlii)

Rimatara Lorikeet (Vini kuhlii)

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.

 Blue-throated Conure (Pyrrhura cruentata)

Blue-throated Conure (Pyrrhura cruentata)

4.  White-eared Conure (Pyrrhura leucotis) – seen at Rio Doce, Linhares, Brazil; Sept 2012

White-eared Conure (Pyrrhura leucotis)

White-eared Conure (Pyrrhura leucotis)

5.  Monk Parakeet/Quaker (Mylopsitta monachus) and Peach-fronted Conure (Aratinga aurea) – seen in the Pantanal, Brazil; Sept 2012

Monk Parakeet/Quaker (Mylopsitta monachus) and Peach-fronted Conure (Aratinga aurea)

Monk Parakeet/Quaker (Mylopsitta monachus) and Peach-fronted Conure (Aratinga aurea)

6.  Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhyncus hyacinthius) – seen in the Pantanal, Brazil; Sept 2012

Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhyncus hyacinthius)

Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhyncus hyacinthius)

7.  Yellow-chevron Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri) – seen in the Pantanal, Brazil; Sept 2012

Yellow-chevron Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri)

Yellow-chevron Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri)

8.  Hahn’s Macaw/Red-shouldered Macaw (Ara nobilis) – seen in Chapada dos Guimaraes, Brazil; Sept 2012

Hahn's Macaw/Red-shouldered Macaw (Ara nobilis)

Hahn’s Macaw/Red-shouldered Macaw (Ara nobilis)

9.  Illiger’s Macaw/Blue-winged Macaw (Primolius maracana) – seen in Chapada dos Guimaraes, Brazil; Sept 2012

Illiger's Macaw/Blue-winged Macaw (Primolius maracana)

Illiger’s Macaw/Blue-winged Macaw (Primolius maracana)

10.  Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012

Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna)

Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna)

11.  Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012

Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus)

Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus)

12.  Madeira Parakeet (Pyrrhura snethlage) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012

Madeira Parakeet (Pyrrhura snethlage)

Madeira Parakeet (Pyrrhura snethlage)

13.  White-bellied Caique (Pionites leucogaster) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012

White-bellied Caique (Pionites leucogaster)

White-bellied Caique (Pionites leucogaster)

14.  Blue-winged Parrolet (Forpus xanthopterygius) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012

Blue-winged Parrolet (Forpus xanthopterygius)

Blue-winged Parrolet (Forpus xanthopterygius)

15.  Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilata) – seen in Alta Floresta, Brazil; Sept 2012

Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilata)

Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilata)

16.  Crimson-bellied Conure (Pyrrhura perlata) – seen at Alta Floresta, Brazil; Sept 2012

Crimson-bellied Conure (Pyrrhura perlata)

Crimson-bellied Conure (Pyrrhura perlata)

17.  Santarem Conure (Pyrrhura amazonum) – seen at Amazonia National Park, Brazil; Sept 2012

Santarem Conure (Pyrrhura amazonum)

Santarem Conure (Pyrrhura amazonum)

18.  Golden Conures (Guarouba guarouba) – seen at Amazonia National Park, Brazil; Sept 2012

Golden Conures (Guarouba guarouba)

Golden Conures (Guarouba guarouba)

19.  White-eyed Conure (Aratinga leucophthalmus) – seen at Amazonia National Park, Brazil; Sept 2012

White-eyed Conure (Aratinga leucophthalmus)

White-eyed Conure (Aratinga leucophthalmus)

20.  Orange-winged Amazons (Amazona amazonica) – seen at Parrot Island near Belem, Brazil; Sept 2012

Orange-winged Amazons (Amazona amazonica)

Orange-winged Amazons (Amazona amazonica)

 

Blue Lorikeet (Vini peruviana) Aka Tahitian Lorikeet

Today is my day to blog about Vini Lorikeets!  It just didn’t seem right to do such a comprehensive post about Rimatara Lorikeets without doing one about their cousins, the Tahitian Blue Lorikeets.

Tahitian Blue Lorikeet

These birds have a somewhat larger distribution area and can be found in around 8 islands: Motu, Manuae, Tikehau, Rangiroa, Aratua, Kaukura, Apataki, Aitutaki, and possibly Harvey Island and Manihi. Its plumage is mainly dark blue and it has a white area over its upper chest, throat and face.

This species qualifies as Vulnerable (rather than endangered) because it has a small and fragmented island distribution and is likely to continue to decline owing to ongoing predation by black rats and, to a lesser extent, cats.

The easiest place to see them in the wild is on Aitutaki in the Cook Islands where the locals affectionately call them “Kuramoo”.

Blue Lorikeet (Vini peruviana)

 

Blue Lorikeet (Vini peruviana) bonded pair

 

Blue Lorikeet (Vini peruviana) checking me out!

 

 

Tahitian Lorikeets