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)
2. Rimatara Lorikeet (Vini kuhlii) – seen on Atiu, Cook Islands, April 2012
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)
4. White-eared Conure (Pyrrhura leucotis) – seen at Rio Doce, Linhares, Brazil; Sept 2012
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)
6. Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhyncus hyacinthius) – seen in the Pantanal, Brazil; Sept 2012
Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhyncus hyacinthius)
7. Yellow-chevron Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri) – seen in the Pantanal, Brazil; Sept 2012
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)
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)
10. Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012
Blue and Gold Macaw (Ara ararauna)
11. Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012
Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus)
12. Madeira Parakeet (Pyrrhura snethlage) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012
Madeira Parakeet (Pyrrhura snethlage)
13. White-bellied Caique (Pionites leucogaster) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012
White-bellied Caique (Pionites leucogaster)
14. Blue-winged Parrolet (Forpus xanthopterygius) – seen in Cristalino, Brazil; Sept 2012
Blue-winged Parrolet (Forpus xanthopterygius)
15. Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilata) – seen in Alta Floresta, Brazil; Sept 2012
Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilata)
16. Crimson-bellied Conure (Pyrrhura perlata) – seen at Alta Floresta, Brazil; Sept 2012
Crimson-bellied Conure (Pyrrhura perlata)
17. Santarem Conure (Pyrrhura amazonum) – seen at Amazonia National Park, Brazil; Sept 2012
Santarem Conure (Pyrrhura amazonum)
18. Golden Conures (Guarouba guarouba) – seen at Amazonia National Park, Brazil; Sept 2012
Golden Conures (Guarouba guarouba)
19. White-eyed Conure (Aratinga leucophthalmus) – seen at Amazonia National Park, Brazil; Sept 2012
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)