Blue-Headed Pionus in Ontario, Canada: Blue-headed Pionus / parrot / Pionus menstruus

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This page was last updated on: April 3, 2009

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Characteristics of the Blue - headed Pionus

~ Pionus menstruus

Length: Around 28 cm ( 11 inches )

Weight: Between 230 grams to 250 grams

Adults: The head, neck and upper breast is a deep rich shade of blue. The ear coverts are a blackish patch. At the the base of the throat, there is an irregular patch of pinkish red feathers. The lower breast feathers are green with a slight brown colour edged with blue, giving them the appearance of purplish blue colour. There is a bronze patch on the shoulders that is formed by the lesser and median wing coverts. The primary flight feathers are blue on the outer edge. The undertail coverts are red or red with green tips with the green going into the the centre of the red feather. The outer tail feathers are a royal blue. The rest of the tail is green. The bill colour is a blackish grey with pinkish red markings at the mandible base. The skin of the eye ring is grey and featherless. The iris is a dark brown and the feet are grey.

Young: Are duller in colouration. The head area is mostly green with some blue head feathers. Some birds have a red frontal band. At around one year of age, they lose the red frontal band and the blue feathers on the head come in.

Subspecies: There are 2 recognized suspecies. One is Pionus menstruus rubrigularis - Paler Blue - headed Parrot.

The blue head feathers are a duller shade of blue. But, the most distinct feature is the more extensive area and pronunced pinkish red feathers at the base of the throat. The upper body feathers are a darker shade of green.

They range from Costa Rica to western Columbia and western Ecuador.

Pionus menstruus reichenowi - Reichenow's Blue - headed Parrot

Has a deeper blue colouration on the head, neck, throat right down to the vent. It lacks the pinkish red throat areas. The red undertail coverts are edged with blue. The bill is horn coloured and the feet a pale grey.

They range from the coastal regions of north eastern Brazil. This species is threatened with extinction.

Origin: They have a very extensive range. It is from most of the tropical part of South America in almost all the northern parts except for the Andes. From southern Costa Rica, Central America, northern Bolivia, central Brazil, Venezuela, Columbia, eastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, the Guianas and Trinidad.

Habitat: In dense forest or lightly timbered country, farmlands and the foothills. Sometimes seen in large flocks foraging in cultivated areas and open countryside. During the breeding season, seen in pairs. It is the most common and has the widest range than any other members of the genus.

Captivity: Fairly common. Young birds are very affectionate. They have a gentle and sweet temperament. Their voice is not as harsh and they are not as noisy as other parrot species. Sexual maturity is closer to 3 years of age. Successful breeding can be done in a small flight or very large cage. The female can lay between 3 to 5 eggs, with the incubation time of 26 days. The fledging period is around 70 days. The nestbox can be made of wood or metal. The size of the nestbox can be 12" x 12" x 18" with the entrance diameter of 4 inches. They can double clutch in a season.

Life expectancy: 40 to 50 years