2009-02-26 • by Administrator

Parrots have been part of the human household for a long time. Parrots are preferred as pets by their human masters for their colorful feathers and their amazing ability to mimic human voice. This leaves behind a pleasant sensation for most pet owners! One genus of parrots is the Pionus parrots which is found in Central and South America. These birds are characterized by large bodies and short tails. They are smaller than their Amazonian cousins. The coloring of their feathers is comparatively subdued than other genus of parrots. However they display incandescence when exposed to bright light!

How do Pionus Parrots Behave?

Pionus parrots are famous for being excellent pets and companions. Far quieter than their counterparts from the Amazon, Pionus parrots maintain a low energy level compared to other genus of parrots. Pionus parrots are best described as charming birds and can offer to be a great pet for the entire family! These birds produce a low wheezing or snorting sound when subjected to stress or excitement. Pionus parrots also have one habit that may tick people off: they sometimes give out a rather unpleasant odor which no pet lover could ever appreciate, however much he/she loves the bird! So, watch out!

How are the Pionus Parrot Species Divided?

The genus of pionus parrots are subdivided into various species. The main species of this genus are Blue-headed Pionus Parrot, Red-billed Pionus Parrot, Scaly-headed Pionus Parrot, White-crowned Pionus Parrot, Speckle-faced Pionus Parrot, Bronze-winged Pionus Parrot and Dusky Pionus Parrot. Of these species the bronze-winged, Blue-head and maximillian species are the most common of the genus pionus.

Bronze-Winged Pionus Parrots

The bronze-winged pionus parrot is found predominantly in the North-Eastern Andes mountain ranges stretching from Venezuela and Columbia. These pionus parrots have short tails and stocky structures. Their characteristic feature is a whitish chin patch of feathers. They have short red under tail feathers and blue under wings. The color of their beaks is pale yellow and their bare skin is actually pink! They are subdivided into two subspecies namely chalcopterus and cyanescens. The altitude where the bird is found ranges from 1200 meters to 2400 meters.

Blue Headed Pionus Parrots

Blue Headed Pionus Parrots are a larger species of parrots found all over South America from Venezuela to Bolivia, Brazil.  These birds are forest dwellers, mostly, though they can breed well in human populations. Blue headed pionus parrots produce unique squeaks and are generally noisy in nature. Their diet includes fruit seeds and sometimes grains as well. They are preferred as pets in spite of their inability to produce sounds like human speech. The blue headed pionus parrot, as is obvious from its name, has a beautiful blue colored head. Their primary color is green and with a dash of red under their tails as well. The wing coverts are sprinkled with yellow and dark eye patches adorn their faces. With a stage of plumage at 8 months to 2 years, the Blue-headed Parrot constructs its nests in trees. The count of eggs is five to six .The incumbency period is 26 days and another 70 days for the bird to take flight. 

What is a True Parrot?

The scaly headed Parrot is a member of the Psittacidae family of parrots. The members of this family are termed as True parrots. These beautiful birds are also called Maximillian Parrot or Maximillian Pionus. Their presence is found in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. The maximillian parrots are also found in Argentina. They make Tropical dry forests as their home and prefer moist montanes.