Red-fan Parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus)

Red-fan Parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus)
(aka Hawk-headed Parrot)

Brazil

The Red-fan Parrot is very distinctive and looks hawk-like whether perched or when flying with its bowed wings in its flap and glide rhythm.

This first photo was taken about 15 minutes after sunrise but even in this poor light it is possible to make out the distinctive white forecrown on one bird and the raised "fan" on the other.

Red-fan Parrot, Carajás, Pará, Brazil, October 2005 - click for larger image

The white crown is a feature of the nominate subspecies found in the Amazon Basin north of the River Amazon. The subspecies Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons found in the Amazon Basin south of the River Amazon and seen in the other photos has a dusky brown forehead although in certain lights and at certain angles this can look very pale.

Red-fan Parrot, Cristalino, Mato Grosso, Brazil, December 2006 - click for larger image

It is usually seen perched high in the canopy of terra firme forest.

There are illustrations in HBW, Volume 4, Pages 288 and 472; and Sick, Plate 17; Hilty & Brown, Plate 11 and Ridgely & Greenfield, Plate 32.

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