Saffron-headed Parrot

The saffron-headed parrot (''Pyrilia pyrilia'') is a Near Threatened species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is found in Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela.Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernández-Baños, R. A. Jiménez, A. W. Kratter, N. A. Mason, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2022. Check-list of North American Birds (online). American Ornithological Society. https://checklist.aou.org/taxaRemsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. 30 January 2023. Species Lists of Birds for South American Countries and Territories. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCCountryLists.htm retrieved January 30, 2023

Taxonomy and systematics

The saffron-headed parrot and the other six members of genus ''Pyrilia'' were until the early 21st century included in genus ''Pionopsitta'' with the pileated parrot (''P. pileata'').Remsen, J. V., Jr., J. I. Areta, E. Bonaccorso, S. Claramunt, A. Jaramillo, D. F. Lane, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, F. G. Stiles, and K. J. Zimmer. Version 30 January 2023. A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithological Society. https://www.museum.lsu.edu/~Remsen/SACCBaseline.htm retrieved January 30, 2023 The saffron-headed parrot is monotypic.

Description

The saffron-headed parrot is long. Adults have an almost entirely yellow head and neck. They have a ring of bare white skin around their eye; brown feathers are around it and on their lores and nares, and a red wash is behind the eye. Their breast is olive that continues as a thin line around the back of the neck. Most of the rest of their body is green, with yellow shoulders, red carpals and flanks, and yellow lower thighs. Their primaries are blackish and their tail feathers have dusky blue tips. Immature birds have green heads, shoulders, and carpals.Collar, N., P. F. D. Boesman, and C. J. Sharpe (2020). Saffron-headed Parrot (''Pyrilia pyrilia''), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.sahpar1.01 retrieved February 24, 2023

Distribution and habitat

The saffron-headed parrot is found in Panama's eastern Darién Province, in north and central Colombia, and in northwestern Venezuela. Though one source describes it as "''very rare'' (status uncertain)" in Ecuador, the South American Classification Committee of the American Ornithological Society does not recognize any records in that country. It inhabits the interior and edges of humid to wet forest, both primary and secondary, usually at elevations below about . It occurs in cloudforest up to but that may be only seasonally.Laverde-R., Oscar; Stiles, F. Gary; & Múnera-R., Claudia. (2005). ''Nuevos registros e inventario de la avifauna de la Serranía de las Quinchas, un área importante para la conservación de las aves (AICA) en Colombia'' ew records and updated inventory of the avifauna of the Serranía de las Quinchas, an important bird area (IBA) in Colombia ''Caldasia'' 27(2): 247–265 panish with English abstractbr>PDF fulltext

Behavior

Movement

The saffron-headed parrot appears to be mostly sedentary, with possibly seasonal elevational movements and some nomadic roaming.

Feeding

Nothing is known about the saffron-headed parrot's feeding behavior or diet.

Breeding

The saffron-headed parrot breeds between March and June in Colombia. Nothing else is known about its breeding biology.

Vocalization

The saffron-headed parrot's most common calls are "a shrieking “cureek” or “queek” " that are made both from a perch and in flight. It also "utters piercing, hoarse-sounding calls" from perches.

Status

The IUCN originally assessed the saffron-headed parrot as Vulnerable but in 2007 relisted it as Near Threatened. It has a somewhat restricted range and its estimated population of under 20,000 mature individuals is believed to be decreasing. Its status in much of Colombia is unclear but it is common in some areas such as the Serranía de las Quinchas.Cuervo, Andrés M.; Hernández-Jaramillo, Alejandro; Cortés-Herrera, José Oswaldo & Laverde, Oscar. (2007). Nuevos registros de aves en la parte alta de la Serranía de las Quinchas, Magdalena medio, Colombia ew bird records from the highlands of Serranía de las Quinchas, middle Magdalena valley, Colombia ''Ornitología Colombiana'' 5: 94-98 panish with English abstractbr>PDF fulltext
"The most severe threat to the species is the loss and degradation of its forest habitat." It is also taken by the pet trade and is hunted for food in Venezuela's Serranía del Perijá. Though the species is found in some protected areas, much of its remaining habit is outside them. "Throughout its range, the altitudes that this parrot favours coincide with those that are most attractive for agriculture and human settlement."

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q549112

saffron-headed parrot
Birds of Colombia
Birds of Panama
Birds of Venezuela
Near threatened animals
Near threatened biota of South America
Near threatened fauna of North America
saffron-headed parrot
saffron-headed parrot
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot