Scaly-headed Parrot Pionus maximiliani

Brazilian name: maitaca-verde

Scaly-headed Parrot, Serra de Canastra, Minas Gerais, Brazil, October 2022 - click for larger image Brazil

The Scaly-headed Parrot is found in eastern and central Brazil and into adjacent areas of Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina. There is a distribution map on xeno-canto.

Scaly-headed Parrot, Perequê, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 2002 - click for larger image It inhabits a variety of habitats from dryish woodland, caatinga and chaco to the north and west of its range to more humid forest in south-east Brazil. In general it prefers drier habitat than the similar Blue-headed Parrot Pionus menstruus.

It is medium-sized at 27 cm. (11") with a short, square-ended tail. Salient points are the scaled effect on the head, dark blue throat and upper breast and red on the undertail coverts.

Scaly-headed Parrot, Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil, November 2006 - click for larger image The specific name comes from the German collector Maximilian Alexander Philip Prince zu Wied-Neuweid who collected in Brazil from 1815 to 1817.

Scaly-headed Parrot, Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 2008 - click for larger image
Scaly-headed Parrot, Serra de Canastra, Minas Gerais, Brazil, October 2022 - click for larger image
Previous Page Back to Index Next Page

If you do not see a menu on the left, you may have arrived at this page from another site. Please click Home to get to my main page.

Valid HTML 4.01 Transitional

Fatbirder's Top 1000 Birding Websites