Brown-hooded Parrot

Taxobox
name = Brown-hooded Parrot
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Psittaciformes
familia = Psittacidae
genus = "Pyrilia"
species = "P. haematotis"
binomial = "Pyrilia haematotis"
binomial_authority = (Sclater & Salvin , 1860)
synonyms ="Pionopsitta haematotis"
"Gypopsitta haematotis"

The Brown-hooded Parrot ("Pyrilia haematotis") is a small parrot which is a resident breeding species from southeastern Mexico to north-western Colombia. Until recently, it was placed in the genus "Pionopsitta", which now is restricted to the type species, the Pileated Parrot. It is sometimes considered conspecific with the Rose-faced Parrot ("P. pulchra").

It is found in lowlands and foothills locally up to 1600 m altitude in forest canopy and edges, and adjacent semi-open woodland and second growth. The white eggs are laid in an unlined nest, usually a natural cavity in a tree.

The Brown-hooded Parrot is 21 cm long and weighs 165 g. The adult has a brown head and neck, darker on the face, especially in males, and a red ear-patch. The rest of the body is mainly green, with an olive tone to the breast. The wings have blue outer primaries and red linings which show well in flight, and the tail has reddish sides The eye-ring and bill are pale. Young birds are similar to the adults, but paler, duller, and without red on the head.

The Brown-hooded Parrot feeds in pairs or small flocks of up to 15 birds, taking various seeds and fruits, including figs, from trees and epiphytes. It can be difficult to see when feeding since it is slow-moving, usually silent, and keeps in the canopy.

Its flight call is a rolling "kereek", and when perched it has a variety of social gurgles and squeaks.

This species has been adversely affected by deforestation.

References

* Stiles and Skutch, "A guide to the birds of Costa Rica" ISBN 0-8014-9600-4
* Ribas, C., R. Gaban-Lima, C. Miyaki, and J. Cracraft (2005). "Historical biogeography and diversification within the Neotropical parrot genus Pionopsitta (Aves: Psittacidae)." Journal Biogeography 32:1409-1427.