Red-billed parrot facts for kids
The red-billed parrot (Pionus sordidus) is a colorful bird found in South America. It's also called the coral-billed pionus or red-billed pionus. This parrot lives in countries like Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. It belongs to the family of parrots known as Psittacidae, which includes many parrots from Africa and the Americas.
Quick facts for kids Red-billed parrot |
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Pionus
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sordidus
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Psittacus sordidus Linnaeus, 1758 |
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Contents
About the Red-Billed Parrot's Name
The red-billed parrot got its scientific name, Pionus sordidus, a long time ago. In 1758, a famous scientist named Carl Linnaeus first described this parrot. He gave it the name Psittacus sordidus.
Later, in 1832, another scientist named Johann Georg Wagler created the group (or genus) called Pionus. The word Pionus comes from an old Greek word meaning "fat." The word sordidus is Latin for "shabby" or "dirty." This might seem like a strange name for a parrot!
Different Types of Red-Billed Parrots
There are six different types, or subspecies, of the red-billed parrot. They are:
- P. s. saturatus
- P. s. ponsi
- P. s. sordidus (This is the main type)
- P. s. antelius
- P. s. corallinus
- P. s. mindoensis
Some of these subspecies are very similar. Scientists sometimes study them to see if they should be considered separate types. The red-billed parrot is closely related to the scaly-headed parrot.
What Does a Red-Billed Parrot Look Like?
Red-billed parrots are about 27 to 29 centimeters (10.5 to 11.5 inches) long. They weigh around 272 grams (9.6 ounces). As their name suggests, all of them have a red beak!
The main type of red-billed parrot has a dull green head. The feathers on its head have dull blue edges. Around its eyes, the skin is bare and grayish. Its back, wings, and inner tail feathers are olive green. The outer tail feathers are blue.
The upper part of its chest is dull blue. This color changes to a buff-olive with a pinkish tint on its belly. The feathers under its tail are red. Young parrots have a green head and chest. Their undertail feathers are yellowish-green.
Differences Among Subspecies
The different types of red-billed parrots have slight differences:
- P. s. antelius is lighter in color than the main type. It has very little blue on its chest.
- P. s. saturatus is darker than the main type.
- P. s. ponsi is even darker than saturatus.
- P. s. corallinus is larger and greener than the main type. It has gray and blue hints on its back.
- P. s. mindoensis looks like corallinus but is a bit more yellow.
Where Do Red-Billed Parrots Live?
Red-billed parrots live in different areas, not all connected. They are found in parts of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.
Specific Locations
- P. s. saturatus lives in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia.
- P. s. ponsi is found from the foothills of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta into the Serranía del Perijá mountains. These mountains are on the border of Colombia and Venezuela.
- P. s. sordidus lives in northern Venezuela, from Falcón and Lara east to Miranda.
- P. s. antelius is in the northeastern Venezuelan states of Anzoátegui, Sucre, and Monagas.
- P. s. corallinus lives in different spots. These include the Eastern Andes of Colombia, eastern Ecuador, central Peru, and central Bolivia.
- P. s. mindoensis is found in western Ecuador.
Their Homes in Nature
These parrots live in many kinds of forests. They like humid and wet forests, including evergreen and semi-deciduous forests. They also live in cloud forests, secondary forests (forests that have grown back), and forests along rivers. You might even find them in coffee farms!
They usually live at elevations between 500 and 1500 meters (1,640 to 4,920 feet). But they can be found as low as 100 meters (330 feet) and as high as 2400 meters (7,870 feet).
Red-Billed Parrot Behavior
Movement
Red-billed parrots in northern Venezuela move around locally during different seasons. However, scientists don't know much about their movements in other parts of their home range.
Feeding Habits
We don't know a lot about how red-billed parrots find their food or exactly what they eat. But we do know that they eat fruits and blossoms from plants.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The time of year when red-billed parrots have their babies changes depending on where they live.
- In Colombia, they breed from February to April.
- In Ecuador, it's from January to May.
- In Venezuela, it includes April.
- In Bolivia, it includes October.
These parrots make their nests in holes found in trees. A female parrot usually lays about three eggs. The eggs hatch after about 27 days. The young parrots are ready to leave the nest about 12 weeks after they hatch.
Vocalization
The sounds red-billed parrots make when they fly seem to be different among the subspecies.
- The P. s. sordidus and P. s. antelius types make a loud "kee!-yak" sound.
- The P. s. corallinus and P. s. mindoensis types make an "up-slurred “crree!” and a softer “crrah”."
Status of the Red-Billed Parrot
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has listed the red-billed parrot as a species of "Least Concern." This means that, for now, they are not in immediate danger of disappearing.
Even though they live in a very large area, we don't know exactly how many red-billed parrots there are. Scientists believe their numbers might be going down. No big threats have been found right now.
They are quite common in most places where they live. However, cutting down forests in Colombia and Venezuela has caused fewer parrots to be in those specific areas. But generally, these parrots can still live even if their habitat is a little bit disturbed.
