Vulturine Parrots

The Vulturine Parrot or Vulture-headed Parrot ( Gypopsitta vulturina) is endemic to Northeast Brazil, Southern Venezuela, south of Amazonia in eastern Pará and northwest Maranhão. This parrot is easily confused with the Pesquet’s Parrot ( Psittrichas fulgidus) – a Neotropical parrot that is endemic to humid forest and adjacent habitats in the eastern Amazon of Brazil.

Description

The Vulturine Parrot has a total length of ca. 23 – 24 cm (9.2 – 9.5 in). It has a rather short, squarish tail, and a mainly green plumage, which typically is tinged blue, especially below. The chest is olive-brown.

The underwing coverts are bright red, and when perched this can be hinted as an orange-red shoulder-patch. The under-tail is yellowish with a bluish tip (appears dark against light). The outer webs and tips of the remiges (flight feathers – typically only visible in flight) are bluish-black, making the outer sections of the upperwing appear quite uniformly dark in flight.

The arguably most conspicuous feature, however, is its un-feathered blackish and orange-pinkish head, bordered by a broad yellow collar of feathers, followed by a second blackish collar. This bare, vaguely vulture-like head is the reason behind its common name. Juveniles have a feathered greenish head.

Little is known about its behavior, but it is suspected the bare head is an adaption to avoid feather-matting from sticky fruits. It has also been recorded feeding on seeds and berries.

Taxonomy

Until recently, it was placed in the genus Pionopsitta, which now is restricted to the type species, P. pileata. Furthermore, individuals previously believed to be immature Vulturine Parrots were described as a new species, the Bald Parrot ( Gypopsitta aurantiocephala), in 2002.

Species: Scientific: Gypopsitta vulturina aka Pionopsitta vulturina (Note: many authors have described species as belonging to monotypic (one single species) genus Gypopsitta; however in recent years it has been accepted as member of Pionopsitta group as differences in behavior and plumage coloration are slight) … English: Vulturine Parrot … Dutch: Gierpapegaai, Kaalkoppapegaai … German: Kahlkopfpapagei … French: Perroquet vautourin

Gaurav Dhir

Gaurav is an animal enthusiast. He lives in beautiful Ontario with his energetic family. As a part of his work at beautyofbirds.com, he has been working with ace parrot trainer, Cassie Malina to understand bird behavior and learn more about how he can train his feathered companions.