Vulturine parrot

Vulturine parrot
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Superfamily:	Psittacoidea
Family:	Psittacidae
Subfamily:	Arinae
Tribe:	Androglossini
Genus:	Pyrilia
Species:	P. vulturina
Binomial name
Pyrilia vulturina (Kuhl, 1820)
Synonyms
Pionopsitta vulturina (Kuhl, 1820) Gypopsitta vulturina

The vulturine parrot (Pyrilia vulturina), not to be confused with Pesquet's parrot (Psittrichas fulgidus), is a Neotropical parrot, which is endemic to humid forest and adjacent habitats in the eastern Amazon of Brazil.

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 (Pyrilia aurantiocephala), in 2002.

Description

The vulturine parrot has a total length of c. 24 cm (9+1⁄2). 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 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 adaptation to avoid feather-matting from sticky fruits. It has also been recorded feeding on seeds and berries.

References

• Collar, N.J. (1997). Vulturine Parrot (Pionopsitta vulturina). pp. 457 in: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. eds (1997). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 4. Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-22-9.
• Gaban-Lima, R., M. Raposo, and E. Höfling (2002). Description of a New Species of Pionopsitta (Aves: Psittacidae) Endemic to Brazil. Auk 119(3): 815–819.
• Juniper, T., and M. Parr (1998). A Guide to the Parrots of the World. Pica Press, East Sussex. ISBN 1-873403-40-2.
• Ribas, C., R. Gaban-Lima, C. Miyaki, and J. Cracraft (2005). Historical biogeography and diversification within the Neotropical parrot genus Pionopsitta (Aves: Psittacidae). Journal Biogeography 32:1409-1427.