Category Archives: Parrots

Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilatus)

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The Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilatus), also known as Guacamaya Manilata, is a medium-sized, mostly green South American parrot, a member of a group of large Neotropical parrots known as macaws. It is the largest of what are commonly called “mini-macaws”. The belly has a large maroon patch which gives the species its name.

Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilata)

Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilata)

And since I couldn’t get a perched shot here’s one from Wikipedia.

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They have quite a large range in in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela. I saw a pair flying overhead at Nariva Swamp while driving but by the time I pulled over, they were gone.  I’ve seen them in several places such as Cristalino and near Napo Wildlife Center.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT RED-BELLIED MACAWS

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife

Neotropical Birds

VIDEOS

Preening to look their best!

 

Maroon-tailed Parakeet (Pyrrhura melanura) & Choco Parakeet (Pyrrhura pacifica)

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Depending on which birding field guide you have you may see these birds lumped together with Pyrrhura melanura as the nominate with these subspecies or as two separate species as per the title of this post.

  • P. m. berlepschi
  • P. m. chapmani
  • P. m. melanura
  • P. m. pacifica
  • P. m. souancei

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I did see them in 3 separate locations in Ecuador so I know I have at least two varieties!  The photos above were taken at Wildsumaco Lodge and were the only Maroon-tailed Parakeets I saw perched.  I also saw them flying through trees at the Waterfall Trail in Mindo & from the canopy tower at Napo Wildlife center.  The ones at Mindo and Rio Silanche are definitely the Choco Parakeet being the only species seen in the western side of the Andes (red).  The ones above could possibly be P.m. souancei (dark green) or the nominate (lighter green).  The ones at Napo were most likely Pyrrhura melanura.  Splits are so confusing!

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LEARN MORE ABOUT MAROON-TAILED & CHOCO PARAKEETS

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife – Maroon-tailed

Birdlife – Choco

Neotropical Birds

Information about the split

VIDEOS

This is pretty much all I get with smaller birds like Pyrrhura Parakeets – just a fleeting glimpse!

Here’s some bird porn to make up for it – filmed at Wildsumaco.

 

Rose-faced Parrot (Pyrilia pulchra)

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The Rose-faced Parrot (Pyrilia pulchra) is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae.  I had to try several times to find these beauties!

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They are only found in Ecuador & Colombia but much of their habitat is difficult to get to for normal tourists.  Mindo is probably the easiest place to find them, especially along the Waterfall Trail.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT ROSE-FACED PARROTS

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife

Neotropical Birds

VIDEOS

Very affectionate little birds!

And this one seems to be looking for a nest.

 

 

Bronze-winged Parrot (Pionus chalcopterus)

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The Bronze-winged Parrot (Pionus chalcopterus) is a short-tailed stocky parrot found in forest and woodland in north-western South America.  They are one of the easier parrots to find in their range.

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They are found mostly in Ecuador & Colombia with a sparse population in Venezuela.  I saw them just about everywhere – Umbrellabird Lodge flybys, Mindo‘s Waterfall Trail, Milpe Bird Sanctuary, Rio Silanche, Rio Blanco in Colombia near Manizales.

bwparrot

LEARN MORE ABOUT BRONZE-WINGED PARROTS

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife

Neotropical Birds

VIDEOS

This was a challenge as there isn’t much video footage of these beautiful parrots from the wild but there are a lot of pet bird videos on YouTube.  Here’s a couple, at least you can hear this one!

Video filmed through digiscoping.

 

 

Red-billed Parrot (Pionus sordidus)

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The Red-billed Parrot (Pionus sordidus) or Red-billed Pionus is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.

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They can be found in humid subtropical forests in the Venezuelan Coastal Range, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and in the Andes from Colombia in north to Bolivia in south (though with significant gaps).  I took these photos on the Mindo Waterfall Trail just outside of Mindo and I also saw some in El Dorado Reserve in Colombia.

redbillparrot

LEARN MORE ABOUT RED-BILLED PARROTS

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife

Neotropical Birds

VIDEOS

A hungry little guy!

 

Ready for his close-up!

 

El Oro Parakeet (Pyrrhura orcesi)

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The El Oro Parakeet, Conure D’Orcès, cotorra de El Oro, or perico de El Oro (Pyrrhura orcesi) is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family, endemic to Ecuador. It is a relatively newly identified species, having been discovered in 1980.

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They are highly endangered and only found in the Buenaventura Reserve where I took these photos.  I have circled the rough area near Pinas in southern Ecuador for travel planning but you MUST visit them with a guide from the Umbrellabird Lodge as I posted before for the protection of the birds.

Buenaventura

LEARN MORE ABOUT EL ORO PARAKEETS

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife

American Bird Conservancy

Neotropical Birds

VIDEO

There aren’t many videos of this beautiful rare parakeet but I did find one.

 

 

White-breasted aka White-necked Parakeet (Pyrrhura albipectus)

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The White-breasted Parakeet (Pyrrhura albipectus) or White-necked Parakeet, is an exquisite species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.  They live in montane tropical forests in southern Ecuador and extreme northern Peru and normally stay within a flock between four and 20 parakeets.

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They have a limited range in southern Ecuador and northern Peru.  The most reliable place to see them is the Podocarpus National Park near Zamora and Copalinga Lodge nearby where they sometimes visit the garden.

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I love seeing the local taxi drivers embracing their native bird in their logo!

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LEARN MORE ABOUT WHITE-NECKED (WHITE-BREASTED) PARAKEETS

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife

Neotropical Birds

VIDEOS

I couldn’t find any videos of this beautiful little parrot that can be embedded but there are a few clips on IBC.

Conserving Ecuador’s Great Green Macaw

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A few years ago, I saw the Great-Green Macaw in Costa Rica and was aware that a smaller subspecies existed in Ecuador.  I was hoping to see them at Cerro Blanco but this didn’t happen, they are just too rare and the populations are very fragmented.  The Ecuadorians are very keen to protect this bird and proudly display their image when entering the country at Guayaquil airport.

DSCN0319 They are the emblem of Bosque Cerro Blanco shown on the logo and in artwork around the park.  Conservation efforts have been increased to save the bird in both Cerro Blanco and Rio Canande. DSCN0337 DSCN0366

Here are some videos showing conservation efforts in Cerro Blanco (Spanish).

 

Lilacine Amazon (Amazona lilacina)

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The Lilacine Amazon (Amazona lilacina), also known as the Ecuadorian Red-lored amazon, is an amazon parrot native to Ecuador in South America.

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I was lucky enough to see a small flock fly by but couldn’t get a decent close up so I have included Wikipedia’s photo.

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This species was recently split from the larger taxa Amazona autumnalis so it is now considered as an Ecuadorian endemic.  The easiest place to see them is Cerro Blanco just 20 minutes out of Guayaquil.  Other possibilities exist between Mindo and the Pacific Ocean but are harder logistcally to reach.

lilacina2

LEARN MORE ABOUT LILACINE PARROTS

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife

BBC

VIDEO

I couldn’t find any videos of wild Lilacine Parrots or Red-lored Amazons filmed in Ecuador so I have to go with a captive bird clip to show the sounds of the bird.

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Pacific Parrotlet (Forpus coelestis)

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The Pacific Parrotlet (Forpus coelestis), also known as Lesson’s Parrotlet or the Celestial Parrotlet, is a species of small parrot in the Psittacidae family, native to Ecuador and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest.

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This loving couple was photographed at Bosque Cerro Blanco near Guayaqil, Ecuador.  Pacific Parrotlets have a fairly large range throughout Ecuador and northern Peru.

PacPlet

LEARN MORE ABOUT PACIFIC PARROTLETS

Wikipedia

World Parrot Trust

Birdlife

Neotropical Birds

VIDEO

It was really hard to find a non-captive bird video.  Most of them are on IBN but I did find ONE clip on YouTube.

Yeah I know, these are captive birds but if you are over 18, scroll down!