Rusty-faced Parrots (Hapalopsittaca amazonina amazonina) are endemic to the slopes of the eastern Andes in western Colombia from Magdalena Valley, Hulia north across Norte de Santender to south-west Táchira, northwest Venezuela; and Cundinamarca, Boyacá.
This species favors primary forest areas, cloud forests, forests at tree level and podocarpus woods in temperate zone between 1,900 m (6,300 ft) and 3,500 m (11,700 ft). Occasionally they visit tall secondary vegetation.
They are assumed to migrate regularly between altitudes and possibly seasonally in localities – depending on availability of food and nesting sites.
Status
This species is rare and occurs in localized, isolated groups. All subspecies are considered very endangered through habitat loss and are listed as Vulnerable due to widespread habitat loss caused by deforestation as land is being converted for agriculture, illegal drug plantations, infrastructure development and mining.
Sub-species:
Hapalopsittaca amazonina has three subspecies (including the nominate species) that occur in the Andes of Venezuela and Colombia.
Note: The Rusty-faced Parrot (Hapalopsittaca amazonina amazonina) forms superspecies with the Red-faced Parrot (hapalopsittaca pyrrhops) and Fuertes’s Parrots (Hapalopsittaca fuertesi), and all three have commonly been considered conspecific (of, or belonging to, the same species).
The Red-faced Parrot and the Fuertes’s Parrot were formerly considered sub-species of the Rusty-faced Parrot (Hapalopsittaca amazonina), but are now considered monotypic (either a genus consisting of only one species or a species without a sub-species).
Hellmayr’s Rusty-faced Parrots (Hapalopsittica a. theresae – Hellmayr 1915)
- Description: Generally darker than nominate species. Forehead, chin and adjacent upper cheeks much darker reddish-brown.
- Distribution: Andes in Tachira and Sierra de Merida, northwest Venezuela.
Velez’s Rusty-faced Parrots (Hapalopsittica a. velezi – Graves and Restrepo 1989):
- Description: Generally darker than the nominate species. The narrow band to forehead and lores (the regions between the eyes and bill on the side of a bird’s head) are cream-colored. The remainder of the forehead, chin and adjacent upper cheeks are much darker reddish-brown.
- Distribution: Forest areas across Manizales on northwest slopes of Nevado del Ruiz Mountains, Caldas, Colombia.
Description:
Size: Rusty-faced parrots are generally chunky and average 23 cm or 9 inches in length (including the tail).
Adults: The plumage is mostly green. The abdomen and under tail-coverts are yellowish-green. They have a dull orange crown and pale yellow lores (the regions between the eyes and bill on the side of a bird’s head). The orange-red cheeks have a yellow streaking. The olive ear-coverts (feathers covering the ears) are slightly elongated with yellow shafts. They have red shoulders. The outer median and secondary wing-coverts are dark blue. The tail is brownish-red with a violet-blue tip. They have blue secondary coverts and dark bluish primaries (= longest wing feathers). The underside of the flight-feathers are greenish-blue. The bill is horn-colored with a bluish-grey base. They have dark grey eye (periophthalmic) rings. The irises are greenish-yellow and their feet are dark grey.
Young (immature) birds have yellow streaks to their ear-coverts and cheeks. The head is a duller red and the secondary wing feathers are green.
Similar Species:
Chapman’s Rusty-faced Parrots (Hapalopsittica fuertesi – Chapman 1912)
- Look similar to the Rusty-faced Parrot, but the rear of the forehead and adjacent cheek areas are greenish-yellow. The chin is green and the crown is blue. The red on the wings is darker. The outer median wing-coverts have a pink edging. The hen looks like the amazonina female, but the red to the wing is darker and more reddish-brown.
- Distribution: Central Andes in Caldas, Colombia
Several sympatric (of the same geographic region) Pionus Parrots could also be confused with the Rusty-faced Parrots; however, they are slightly larger with proportionately shorter tails. They also have a different flight action.
Diet / Feeding
Their diet consists of a variety of seeds, fruits (including berries), flowers, blossoms and shoots of various plants. They drink water from the tanks of bromeliads in trees.
Breeding / Nesting
In their natural habitat in Ecuador, they breed from October to April. They nest in naturally formed tree cavities or woodpecker nest sites. Little is known about their breeding habits. In one case a nest with two eggs was found. The hen incubated them alone for about 26 to 28 days, leaving the clutch only for a short time every few hours to be fed by the male who guarded them from a nearby tree or the edge of the nest. Once the young hatched, they were initially fed every two hours; later on they were fed about four times a day.
The young fledged when they were about 49 to 51 days old.
Call / Vocalization
Rusty-faced parrots make loud sheck-sheck sound, particularly in flight.
Taxonomy / Alternative Names
Class: Aves … Order: Psittaciformes … Family: Psittacidae … Subfamily: Psittacinae
Genus: Scientific: Hapalopsittaca … English: Rusty-faced Parrots … Dutch: Bruinoorpapegaaien … German: Zwergamazonen … French: Perruche amazonina
Species: Scientific: Hapalopsittaca amazonina amazonina … English: Rusty-faced Parrot … Dutch: Andes Papegaai … German: Zwergamazone … French: Perruche amazonina … CITES II: Endangered Species
Sub-species:
Hellmayr’s Rusty-faced Parrots:
Species: Scientific: Hapalopsittaca amazonina theresae … English: Hellmayr’s Rusty-faced Parrot … Dutch: Hellmayrs Andes Papegaai … German: Hellmayrs Zwergamazone … French: Perruche amazonina Tchira … CITES II – Endangered Species
Description: Look similar to the nominate Rusty-faced Parrots (amazonina), but the plumage is generally darker. The forehead, chin and adjacent upper cheeks are a much darker reddish-brown. The ear-coverts and lower cheeks are a darker olive. The throat and breast are dusky olive. Average Length: 23 cm (9 ins)
Distribution: Andes in Tachira and Sierra de Merida, northwest Venezuela.
Vélez’s Rusty-faced Parrots:
Species: Scientific: Hapalopsittaca amazonina velezi … English: Vélez Rusty-faced Parrot … Dutch: Vélez Andes Papegaai … German: Vélezs Zwergamazone … French: Perruche amazonina de Vélez … CITES II – Endangered Species
Description: As Rusty-faced Parrots (amazonina), but the plumage is generally darker. The narrow band to the forehead and lores (the regions between the eyes and bill on the side of a bird’s head) are cream-colored; and the remainder of the forehead, chin and adjacent upper cheeks are a much darker reddish-brown turning olive on the crown and olive-yellow on the back of the crown and nape (back of the neck) There is a clear definition between the olive-yellow nape and green back. The ear-coverts (feathers covering the ears) and lower cheeks are a darker olive. The throat and breast are dusky olive-yellow and the irises are greenish-white. Average Length: 23 cm (9 ins)
Distribution: Frequent forest areas across Manizales on northwest slopes of Nevado del Ruiz Mountains, Caldas, in Colombia.
