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Scaly-headed Parrot  

Also Known As: Maximilian's Parrot or Pionus, Tucuman Parrot (P.m. lacerus)
 
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Scaly-headed or Maximilian’s Pionus

Credit: (c) Brian L. Lambert | License: ShutterStock
 
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Did You Know?
The Scaly-headed Parrot or Pionus gets its name from the grey scalloped feathers on its head, which give it at scaly appearance.

Species Profile
Genus:
Pionus

Species:
maximiliani

Size: Adult Weight:
29cm (11.3 in) 233-293g (8.1-10.2 oz)

Races including nominate:
four: P.m. maximiliani, P.m. melanoblepharus, P.m. siy, P.m. lacerus

Colourization Adult:
P.m. maximiliani: both adults in general dull green; underparts paler and more bronze/brown, with feathers margined dusty brown; green/black forehead and lores; dull blue chin and band across throat; red undertail coverts tipped with blue and yellow/green; green tail with red at base. Bill dull yellow with dark grey at base. Eye ring bare and white with grey spot in front of and behind eye. Eye dark brown. P.m. melanoblepharus: both adults band on chin and throat darker blue; darker green back and underparts. Larger in size. P.m. siy: both adults as in melanoblepharus, but with blue/purple chin and throat band; some upper breast feathers with red bases; bronze/green of back and underparts paler. P.m. lacerus: both adults as in siy, but deeper blue and more extensive throat band.

Colourization Juvenile: P.m. maximiliani: paler green head with less pronounced scalloping to feathers; reddish forehead; minimal blue on throat.

Call: Calls made in flight are resonant choik-choik usually heard from far off; while at rest emits a series of rapid notes and harsh squawks, interspersed with low clucks.

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Recent Academic Research: Google Scholar - search results

 

Content Sources:

Animal World http://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/pionus/maxipion.php

Central Pets http://www.centralpets.com/animals/birds/parrots/prt1255.html

Lexicon of Parrots http://www.arndt-verlag.com/projekt/birds_3.cgi?Desc=E308.htm&Pic=308_1.JPG

BirdLife International http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=1655&m=0

CITES http://www.cites.org/eng/resources/species.html

Internet Bird Collection http://www.hbw.com/ibc/

xeno-canto America http://www.xeno-canto.org/index.php

Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998.

Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1977.

Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.

Parrots in Aviculture, Low, 1992.

Parrots: Their Care and Breeding, Low, 1986.

Psittacine Aviculture, Schubot, Clubb and Clubb, 1992.