Red-faced Parrot
Size:
23 cm (9 in)
Weight:
Probably as in Rusty-faced Parrot: 97-115 g (3.4-4 oz).
Subspecies including nominate:
one
Colour Adult:
Both adults: dark red forehead and lores to area in front of cheeks and chin; crown and nape green with tint of blue; area behind cheeks and ear-coverts green, with green/yellow shafts; various feathers of abdomen tipped red. Bend of wing and carpal edge to lesser, outer middle and lesser underwing coverts deep red; tail green tipped purple. Beak horn-coloured with blue/grey base of upper mandible. Eye green/yellow.
Colour Juvenile:
As in adults but duller; duller red on face and bend of wing to lesser wing coverts.
Call:
Described as generally harsh and screechy. Two-syllable calls. First part is rasping, second part higher-pitched. Will give calls while perched or feeding. Young sound different-chattering and laugh-like.
More Information:
Content Sources:
CITES
Avibase
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
Parrots: Status Survey and Conservation Plan 2000-2004, Snyder, McGowan, Gilardi and Grajal, 2000.
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006. 2010 edition
Captive Status:
Unknown in aviculture.
Longevity:
—
Housing:
—
Diet:
—
Enrichment:
—
Nest Box Size:
—
Clutch Size:
3
Fledging Age:
—
Hatch Weight:
—
Peak Weight:
—
Weaning Weight:
—
World Population:
1200-1600 mature individuals, decreasing.
IUCN Red List Status:
Endangered
CITES Listing:
Appendix II
Threat Summary:
A BirdLife “restricted-range” species. Very uncommon and local in Ecuador due to near-total deforestation at the elevation they live. Also rare in Peru.
Range:
Found on the slopes of the Andes in N Peru and S Ecuador.
Habitat:
Found from 2400-3500 m (7872-11,480 ft). Inhabits wet upper montane forest in the temperate zone including mossy growth areas, open woodlands and shrubbery. Also reported in fragmented forest with varying degrees of degradation. Will tolerate secondary forest.
Wild Diet:
Feeds on Miconia fruits, Viburnum berries, Weinmannia shoots, flowers and seeds, Clethra flowers and pods, and parts of Ericaceous trees Cavendishia and Disterigma.
Ecology and Behaviour:
Gregarious, almost always seen in flocks of up to 20 birds. Resident, with local movements in response to food availability.
Clutch and Egg Size:
3
Breeding Season:
October–January, possibly also August. Nest is in cavity in tree.
