June 21, 2020

Genus Pionus

Genus Pionus is a group of about 8 different species of medium-sized parrots that are native to North, Central, and South America.

The defining features of Pionus are their stocky build, bare eye ring, and short square tail. They tend to have relatively subdued coloration as compared with more vibrantly colored species. Additionally, all Pionus have bright red undertail coverts. Also like most parrots there is no notable sexual dimorphism.

In flight Pionus are known to have a strong and deep wing beat. In fact the wing beat is so deep that the wings touch under the bird during the downstroke.

When excited or nervous, Pionus will emit an odd wheezing or snorting noise, which is often confused with respiratory distress. They are also know to give off a sweet and/or musky odor when excited as well.

In the wild Pionus diets consist mainly of fruits, but they also consume seeds, berries, flowers, and crops if available.

Pionus Species Descriptions

Species	Common Name	Subspecies (#)	Subspecies and Nominate	Description
tumultuosus	Plum-crowned Parrot	0	tumultuosus	Both adults are generally green with paler green on underparts. They have a dark red crown and nape with red feathers on the sides of their heads tipped with purple and visible white bases. Their hindneck and sides of neck to their breast is wine/purple. Their red undertail coverts are tinted with purple and their green tail is red at the base. Their bill is olive/yellow. Their eye ring is bare and pale grey and they have brown eyes.
sordidus	Red-billed Parrot	5	sordidus	Both adults have an olive/green head, with broad dark blue edging to the feathers of crown and occiput. They have olive cheeks, with blue tipped feathers.They have a blue band on a blue throat, along with a blue chin. Their underparts are dull olive, lightly washed with dull pink. Their undertail coverts are red light yellow/green tips. Their tail is red at the base. Their bill is distinctly red. They have pale grey eye ring and eyes.
sordidus	Red-billed Parrot	–	antelius	Both adults paler than sordidus. They have more yellow/green tinges with a green throat a minimal/absent blue band. The pink wash on underparts is absent. They have a olive/yellow abdomen with paler margins to feathers. They are also smaller in size.
sordidus	Red-billed Parrot	–	ponsi	Both adults are a darker green than sordidus. The blue band on the throat is absent and the pink on the chest is minimal or absent.
sordidus	Red-billed Parrot	–	saturatus	Both adults, are similar to ponsi, but have paler, more yellow/green lesser wing coverts and upper tail coverts. They have a paler green abdomen and flanks along with less olive.
sordidus	Red-billed Parrot	–	corallinus	Both adults are dull green and the paler edges to feathers are absent. There is blue edging to feathers of head. They have a purple/blue chin and band across throat. They are larger in size than other subspecies.
seniloides	White-capped Parrot	0	seniloides	Both adults in general are green with paler lower underparts. They have a white forehead and forecrown. The feathers are grey just before the tips and are orange/red tipped on forehead. They have dark grey ear coverts marked with pink. Their cheeks and lores are white with dark grey edging on the feathers. The feathers on the forecheeks are sometimes edged with orange/red. The throat has a pink band which turns to red/purple on the chest which further blends with the brown on the abdomen. They have red undertail coverts and green tail with red at the base. Their bill is pale olive/yellow. Their eye ring is bare and pale grey and they have brown eyes.
senilis	White-crowned Parrot	0	senilis	Both adults are in general green with yellow/green on underparts. They have a white forehead and forecrown with a white patch on the chin and middle of the throat. They have dark blue ear coverts with an olive breast and the feathers are edged with purple/blue. They have red under tail coverts with gold/brown lesser and median wing coverts that are dull green at the center.They have a green tail with a red at base. Their bill is green/yellow with grey at the base. Their eye ring is bare and brown/pink and they have brown eyes.
menstruus	Blue-headed Parrot	3	menstruus	Both adults are in general green with a blue head and neck. They have a faint red band on the throat with dull black ear coverts. They have red undertail coverts tipped with blue/green. They have olive/brown lesser wing coverts and green median wing coverts, with wide olive/brown edging. Their tail is green with red at the base. Their bill is dark grey with red at the base. Their eye ring is pale grey and their eyes are dark brown.
menstruus	Reichenow’s blue-headed parrot	–	reichenowi	Both adults have a blue head and neck with a darker blue throat. They have green lower underparts washed with blue. They also have red undertail coverts tipped with blue.
menstruus	Paler blue-headed parrot	–	rubrigularis	Both adults are similar to menstruus, but the blue head and neck are duller. There is more red on the throat with darker green upperparts.
maximiliani	Scaly-headed Parrot	4	maximiliani	Both adults are in general a dull green with paler underparts of bronze/brown, with feathers margined dusty brown. They have green/black forehead and lores with a dull blue chin and band across the throat. They have red undertail coverts tipped with blue and yellow/green. Their tail is green with red at the base. Their bill is dull yellow with dark grey at the base. The eye ring is bare and white with grey spot in front of and behind the eye. Their eyes are dark brown.
maximiliani	Scaly-headed Parrot	–	melanoblepharus	Both adults have a band on the chin and a darker blue throat. They have darker green back and underparts and are larger in size.
maximiliani	Scaly-headed Parrot	–	siy	Both adults are similar to melanoblepharus, but they have a blue/purple chin and throat band. Some upper breast feathers have red bases. They also have a bronze/green back and with pale underparts.
maximiliani	Scaly-headed Parrot	–	lacerus	Both adults are similar to siy, but they have a deeper blue and more extensive throat band.
fuscus	Dusky Parrot	0	fuscus	Both adults have a grey/blue head with a red spot on both sides of forehead. Their ear coverts are black and the feathers of the throat and neck are tipped with dusty white.The chin is brown/blue and the feathers are edged with pink. The upperparts are dark brown with pale margins on the feathers. The brown feathers are edged purple/red or red/blue. Their under tail coverts are red. The tail is dark blue with red at the base. Their bill is dark grey with yellow at the base. Their eye ring is bare and pale grey and their eyes are brown.
chalcopterus	Bronze-winged Parrot	0	chalcopterus	Both adults are dark purple/blue in color with a bronze/brown neck and head. Their feathers are widely tipped with dark purple/blue. They have a white chin with dull pink edging on feathers of foreneck, producing a wide band. They have a bronze/green upper back, mantle, and scapulars. They have a deep blue rump and lower back with red undertail coverts. They have bronze/brown upper wing coverts and tertials with a dark blue tail with red at the base. Their bill is yellow and their eye ring is bare and brown/pink. Their eyes are brown.

Scaly headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani)

Bronze-winged Parrot (Pionus chalcopterus)

Pionus Geographic Distribution

Species	Common Name	Region
tumultuosus	Plum-crowned Parrot	Mountains of central and south Peru, south from Carpish region, Huanuco, to north Bolivia, in La Paz, Cochabamba, and Santa Cruz.
sordidus	Red-billed Parrot	P.s. sordidus: Highlands of northwest Venezuela. P.s. antelius: Highlands of northeast Venezuela. P.s. ponsi: northwest Venezuela and north Colombia. P.s. saturatus: Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta district, north Colombia. P.s. corallinus: Eastern slope of Cordillera Oriental in Colombia south to Andean slopes in Ecuador and north Peru, and east Andean slope in west Bolivia.
seniloides	White-capped Parrot	Mountains of west Venezuela, from Tachira and Merida to Trujillo-Lara border, through west Colombia; in Cordilla Occidental reported only locally on eastern slope of Rio Cauca valley, southwest Antioquia and south on both slopes of Andes in Ecuador to northwest Peru, in Cajamarca and La Libertad.
senilis	White-crowned Parrot	Central America, mostly Caribbean slope from south Tamaulipas and east San Luis Potosi, southeast Mexico, to central Costa Rica, and both slopes from central Costa Rica to west Panama, in west Chiriqui and west Bocas del Toro.
menstruus	Blue-headed Parrot	P.m. menstruus: Trinidad, Guianas, and Venezuela to east Colombia, east Ecuador, and east Peru south to central Bolivia, and Amazonian Brazil. P.m. reichenowi: east Brazil. P.m. rubrigularis: south Costa Rica and Panama to west Colombia and west Ecuador.
maximiliani	Scaly-headed Parrot	P.m. maximiliani: northeast Brazil, from Ceara, Piaui and south Maranhao south to Espirito Santo, central Minas Gerais, and south Goias. P.m. melanoblepharus: central Brazil, from south Goias and southern Minas Gerais, south to east Paraguay and northeast Argentina, in Misiones and Corrientes. P.m. siy: Mato Grosso, Brazil, to central Bolivia, Paraguay and north Argentina, in Formosa and Chaco. P.m. lacerus: northwest Argentina, in Catamarca and Tucuman to south Salta and werst Chaco
fuscus	Dusky Parrot	East Venezuela, along lower Rio Caura and Sierra de Imataca to upper Rio Cuyuni and Sierra de Lema, north Bolivar, and Guianas to northeast Brazil, north of the Amazon River from Amapa inland to Rio Negro and south of Amazon River from northwest Maranhao inland to lower Rio Madeira; also on western slopes of Sierra de Perija, Guajira, north Colombia.
chalcopterus	Bronze-winged Parrot	Northwest Venezuela, in Sierra de Perija, Zulia and mountains of east Tachira and west Merida and west Colombia, in Sierra de Perija, Guajira and in isolated pockets through Andean cordilleras, on western slope of Cordillera Occidental south from Rio Atrato, to both slopes of Andes in west Ecuador, and to northwest Peru, Tumbes and Piura.

Pionus Body Metrics

Species	Common Name	Weight (g)	Size (cm)
tumultuosus	Plum-crowned Parrot	250	29
sordidus	Red-billed Parrot	255-275	28
seniloides	White-capped Parrot	229	30
senilis	White-crowned Parrot	193-229	24
menstruus	Blue-headed Parrot	234-295	28
maximiliani	Scaly-headed Parrot	233-293	29
fuscus	Dusky Parrot	179-222	26
chalcopterus	Bronze-winged Parrot	210	29

Pionus Habitat

Species	Common Name	Habitat	Flock Size
tumultuosus	Plum-crowned Parrot	Found from 1400 to 3300m (4592-10,824 ft) in humid forest in the subtropical zone and tall cloud forest with bamboo thickets; in temperate zone in elfin woodland, wooded ravines and open areas with trees.	Social
sordidus	Red-billed Parrot	Found from 350-2000m (1148-6560 ft) in humid forest, including montane rainforest and cloud forest, in subtropical and upper tropical zones. Often found in secondary growth, partially deforested areas with scattered tall trees and sometimes light woodland near coffee plantations.	50
seniloides	White-capped Parrot	Found from 1500-3200m (4920-10,496 ft) in montane forest and forest margins; also high cloud forest or stunted trees bordering paramos.	20 (prefers cloudy weather)
senilis	White-crowned Parrot	Found up to 2300m (7544 ft) in mainly humid forest and woodland but also in local pine-oak forests, savanna and moist lower montane growth. Also has been reported from woodland and forest edge, cultivated areas and pastures with scattered trees, plantations, secondary growth and wooded streams.	Pairs or small flocks. Occasionally hundreds.
menstruus	Blue-headed Parrot	Found up to 1100m (3608 ft) in lowland tropical forest, including rainforest, deciduous and savanna; subtropical formations, cultivated areas, plantations, clearings with trees, secondary growth forest and seasonally in dry caatinga forest in Brazil.	Social and boisterous
maximiliani	Scaly-headed Parrot	Found up to 2000m (6560 ft) in various habitats from lowland dry forest to dry caatinga and seasonal cerrado savannas. Also found in more humid forest such as gallery woodland and Araucaria sp. forest and subtropical forests on east Andean	Large Flock
fuscus	Dusky Parrot	Chiefly lowland rainforest and humid forest in foothills; terra firme forest, várzea and igapo (permanently flooded forest). Also seen in savanna, coastal gallery forest and cultivated areas. Found up to 1200m (3936 ft).	Groups
chalcopterus	Bronze-winged Parrot	Found from 900-2800m (2952-9184 ft) in mainly humid and wet upland and montane forest; also seen in drier deciduous areas on west Andean slope, in forest edge and partly cleared areas with scattered trees.	Social

Pionus Diet

Species	Common Name	Wild Food Staple
tumultuosus	Plum-crowned Parrot	Fruits, seeds, and may take crops.
sordidus	Red-billed Parrot	Fruits, berries, and seeds.
seniloides	White-capped Parrot	Seeds, fruits, and sometimes maize.
senilis	White-crowned Parrot	Ripening seeds, palm fruits and sometimes cultivated crops
menstruus	Blue-headed Parrot	Various seeds, fruits, and flowers
maximiliani	Scaly-headed Parrot	Erythina, Inga, Piptadenia, Copaifera, Croton, Pachystroma, Plathymenia reticulata, Ficus and Araucaria species plants.
fuscus	Dusky Parrot	Seeds of Eschweilera and Micropholis species.
chalcopterus	Bronze-winged Parrot	Fruits, particularly Ficus species.

Pionus Reproduction

Species	Common Name	Breeding Season	Clutch
tumultuosus	Plum-crowned Parrot	Begins November	4
sordidus	Red-billed Parrot	February-April in Colombia, January-May in Venezuela, and October in Bolivia.	3
seniloides	White-capped Parrot	November-December	4
senilis	White-crowned Parrot	March in Mexico and January-April in Costa Rica.	4-6
menstruus	Blue-headed Parrot	February-April in Panama, February-March in Colombia, February in Venezuela, March and October in Trinidad, and February-May in Ecuador.	3-4
maximiliani	Scaly-headed Parrot	October	4-5
fuscus	Dusky Parrot	February-May	4
chalcopterus	Bronze-winged Parrot	March-May	3-4

Pionus Chicks

Species	Common Name	Incubation Period (Days)	Time to Fledge (Weeks)
tumultuosus	Plum-crowned Parrot	27	9-10
sordidus	Red-billed Parrot	26	9-10
seniloides	White-capped Parrot	26-28	9-10
senilis	White-crowned Parrot	26	8
menstruus	Blue-headed Parrot	26	10
maximiliani	Scaly-headed Parrot	26	9-10
fuscus	Dusky Parrot	26-28	9-10
chalcopterus	Bronze-winged Parrot	27	9

Pionus Conservation Status

Species	Common Name	Status	Threat Summary
tumultuosus	Plum-crowned Parrot	Least Concern	Possible decline in some areas due to deforestation.
sordidus	Red-billed Parrot	Least Concern	Probably in decline locally due to deforestation.
seniloides	White-capped Parrot	Least Concern	Some evidence of decline due to deforestation.
senilis	White-crowned Parrot	Least Concern	Persecution as crop pest, hunting for food and deforestation, however; no serious decline in numbers has been reported.
menstruus	Blue-headed Parrot	Least Concern	Declining in some areas (east Brazil) due to deforestation and some illegal trade. The Blue-headed Parrot will most likely lose up to 23% of suitable habitat within its range over 20 years based on a model of Amazonian deforestation. Its population will be expected to decline by <25% over three generations.
maximiliani	Scaly-headed Parrot	Least Concern	Decline in some parts of range (north Argentina) due to wild bird trade. Elsewhere less numerous because of habitat loss. Since 1981 there have been 93,234 individuals traded on the international market.
fuscus	Dusky Parrot	Least Concern	Severe deforestation in parts of its range may be affecting population numbers.
chalcopterus	Bronze-winged Parrot	Least Concern	Has suffered declines in some areas due to rapid clearance of subtropical forest.