White-crowned

White-crowned Parrot
Pionus senilis

Taxonomy

  • Scientific name:

    Pionus senilis

  • Family:

    Psittacidae

  • Genus:

    Pionus

  • Species:

    Senilis

  • Common names:

    White-crowned parrot

Biology

  • Morphology:

    The white-crowned parrot is 24 cm long and weighs 220 g. They are the smallest of this species. They have a white forehead and crown. The throat is white, and the rest of the head, neck and breast are dull dark blue. The belly is light green, and the upperparts are dark green, with a yellow-olive shoulder patch. Males are brighter than females, though both sexes are similarly patterned in general.

  • Reproduction:

    They build nests in cavities situated in tree knots or in hollow palm trunks. They lay 3 to 6 eggs and incubation takes about 26 days.

  • Diet:

    White-crowned parrots tend to eat seeds, fruits and nuts in the forest, but they have been known to raid agricultural areas for fruits and grains.

Ecology

  • Range:

    From east Mexico to west of Panama. They live around coastal areas.

  • Habitat:

    Wet forest like tropical evergreen, but can be found locally in oak pine and low mountain forest.

Threats

  • Deforestation and pet trade. IUCN Red List: Least concern.