Scaly-headed Parrot Pionus maximiliani

Brazilian name: maitaca-verde
Scaly-headed Parrot, Perequê, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 2002 - 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.

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.

There are recordings and a distribution map on xeno-canto and additional information is available via Avibase.
Scaly-headed Parrot, Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 2008 - click for larger image
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