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Blue-headed Parrot  (Pionus menstruus)

Also Known As: Blue-hooded Parrot, Red-vented Parrot, Blue-headed Pionus
 
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Blue-headed Pionus

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Did You Know?
The Blue-headed Parrot, along with many other South American species of parrot, regularly visits clay banks along rivers to ingest the mineral to neutralize toxins the birds ingest with the seeds they eat.

Status in the Wild
World Population:
Not recorded

Range:
P.m. menstruus: Trinidad, Guianas, and Venezuela to E Colombia, E Ecuador, and E Peru south to C Bolivia, and Amazonian Brazil.
P.m. reichenowi: E Brazil.
P.m. rubrigularis: S Costa Rica and Panama to W Colombia and W Ecuador.


Habitat:
Found up to 1100m (3608 ft) in lowland tropical forest, including rainforest, deciduous and savanna; subtropical formations, cultivated areas, plantations, clearings with trees, secondary growth forest and seasonally in dry caatinga forest in Brazil.

Threat Summary:
Declining in some areas (E Brazil) due to deforestation and some illegal trade.

IUCN Rating:
Least concern

Wild Diet:
Feeds on various seeds, fruits and flowers.

CITES Rating:
Appendix II

Ecology:
Forages in the upper canopy. Social and boisterous while not breeding, gathering in large groups where food abundant or when roosting. Nests in old tree cavities previously used by other species.

Clutch and Egg Size:
3-4 pointed oval eggs, 31.5 x 25.0mm (1.2 x 1.0 in)

Breeding Season:
February-April, Panama; February-March, Colombia; February, Venezuela; March and October, Trinidad; February-May, Ecuador.

More Info Sites:
Infonatura search for 'Blue-headed Parrot'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-headed_Parrot