Bird Guide

Black-headed Parrot vs White-bellied Parrot

Black-headed Parrot (Pionites melanocephalus)

Black-headed Parrot

Pionites melanocephalus

Medium149 gForest

The black-headed parrot is 21 to 25 cm (8.3 to 9.8 in) long and weighs 130 to 170 g (4.6 to 6.0 oz). The sexes are the same. Adults of the nominate subspecies have a black cap from forehead to nape and a rufous-orange band across their hindneck. They are green from their lores to below their eye, and yellow on their lower face, sides of their neck, and their upper breast. Their back and wings are dull green with dark blue primaries and reddish blue axiillaries. Their lower breast and belly are creamy white and their flanks, thighs, and vent area are apricot yellow. Voice: The black-headed parrot's flight call is " a high-pitched and penetrating squealing "skeeea .. skeeea" also described as "a wheezy or squealing screech, e.g. 'screeéyr, screeyer-screeyer-screeyer'." It is very vocal when perched, where it makes "a variety of calls, some more musical, others rather un-birdlike".

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Peter Tan · CC BY 2.0
White-bellied Parrot (Pionites leucogaster)

White-bellied Parrot

Pionites leucogaster

Medium155 gForest

The white-bellied parrot is 23 to 25 cm (9.1 to 9.8 in) long and weighs about 155 g (5.5 oz). It is a chunky, short-tailed parrot. The sexes are the same. Adults of the nominate subspecies P. l. leucogaster have mostly yellow heads with orange crowns and napes. Their upperparts are mostly dull green with a bright green rump. Their throat, the sides of their neck, their breast, and their vent are yellow. Also, their lower breast and belly are white with bright green thigh feathers. Their wing is mostly dull green with reddish-orange axillaries and dark blue primaries. Voice: The white-bellied parrot's flight call is "a high-pitched, harsh, squealing "sqheee .. sqheee"." It also makes "from loud high-pitched "kree-ee-ee" or "skeeew" notes to more melodious whistles and subdued "kee-ah-u" or "kew" calls" when perched.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: christoph_moning · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black-headed Parrot and White-bellied Parrot.