Blue-rumped Parrot

Psittinus cyanurus

Large-headed and short-tailed parrot with a comically bulbous bill. Male is green with a bright orange bill and a powder-blue head and rump. Female is brown-headed with a dark bill. Usually moves in mid-sized flocks through forests, edges, and parks. Does not sound as cacophonous and unpleasant as many parrots; gives rather musical whistled notes.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Psittinus cyanurus
Authority
(Forster, JR, 1795)
Order
Psittaciformes
Family
Psittaculidae
Genus
Psittinus

Range and habitat

Migration
Nomadic movement

Conservation

Population trend
declining

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

Other Birds

Shelley's Starling

Shelley's Starling

Lamprotornis shelleyi

A small dark starling of dry country. The upperparts are iridescent, with a blue sheen on the head and green on most of the wing. Also note the chestnut underparts and the yellow-orange eye. Found in dry thorn savanna and thorn scrub, usually in small wandering flocks, often with other species of starlings. Similar to Hildebrandt’s Starling, but slightly smaller and darker overall, with a deeper rufous belly and a less contrasting green wing. Also reminiscent of Superb Starling, but doesn’t have a white chest band. Gives mewing calls, often in a long, continuous series. 

White-collared Yuhina

White-collared Yuhina

Parayuhina diademata

Small brown bird with a flashy white patch on the back of an erect crest. Inhabits broadleaved forests and adjacent second growth, parks, and gardens in hilly and montane regions. Often travels in flocks, sometimes associating with other species. Usually forages at middle levels in the forest. Gives dry trills and buzzy whistles.

Five-colored Barbet

Five-colored Barbet

Capito quinticolor

Colorful barbet of lowland rainforest west of the Andes; scarce and declining in northwestern Ecuador, but more common in parts of southwestern Colombia. Male is black and yellow with red crown, white throat, and streaked flanks. Female is heavily spotted with black below, and has black and yellow streaking on head. Usually stays high in trees and often joins mixed-species flocks. Male sings a series of ten or more soft “boo” notes; he hunches over and looks like he’s retching while singing.

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