Bird Guide

Scaly-headed Parrot

Pionus maximiliani

Least ConcernSeedsForestCavity nestMedium · 293 g

About the Scaly-headed Parrot

The scaly-headed parrot is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is also called scaly-headed pionus, Maximilian pionus, Maximilian parrot, Maximilian's pionus, or Maximilian's parrot. It is found in Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The scaly-headed parrot is 25 to 29 cm (9.8 to 11 in) long and weighs 233 to 293 g (8.2 to 10 oz). Adults of the nominate subspecies P. m. maximiliani have a blackish brown forehead and mid-crown. Their rest of their head, their nape, and their upper back are dark greenish bronze; the feathers have darker edges that give the eponymous scaly effect. Their eye has arcs of bare white skin above and below. Their lower back and wings are dull green with lighter scaling. Their throat and upper breast are dull blue that becomes yellowish green on the belly. Voice: One author says that the scaly-headed parrot's call is a "cacaphony of very high, shrill 'teer-teer-teer--'." Another says its primary flight call is "a repeated bisyllabic "cra-cheh", sometimes simply 'crreeh' or 'cheh' and that it also has a variety of 'conversational' calls, some with a more nasal quality" given while perched.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Scaly-headed Parrot lives

Regular rangeRare visitor

Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Spain.

When to see the Scaly-headed Parrot

Peak activity in October · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

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