| The blue-headed parrot (Pionus menstruus) is one of | | | | swelling on the top of the beak). |
| eight species of pionus parrot native to Central | | | | Of the parrots commonly kept as pets the |
| America and South America. Measuring around 11 | | | | blue-headed is one of the most affectionate and calm. |
| inches this bird's lifespan is around 25 years. Don't get | | | | With dedicated coaching they can also be reared into |
| muddled between this species and blue fronted | | | | reasonable mimics. However, they are not the best |
| Amazon parrots as they are quite different. | | | | mimics, and in fact on the plus side are quite quiet for |
| The blue-headed parrot is native to South America | | | | parrots. |
| and Central America, and can be found in the | | | | The blue-headed parrot is comfortable in both an |
| America-Amazon basin from Costa Rica to Panama. | | | | aviary and indoors, but if you have a non-captive bred |
| Some good places to spot them in their native habitat | | | | specimen then the acclimatization process can take up |
| are Brazil, Bolivia, Central America, Costa Rica, Trinidad | | | | to two years. |
| and Venezuela. In these countries they live in forests | | | | For this bird grit and cuttlefish bone are good |
| and some more open locations. They tend to live in | | | | supplements to the standard parrot diet of parrot mix, |
| groups, often roosting in palm trees, and are a sociable | | | | fruit and greens. In the wild they enjoy seed as the |
| bird. | | | | staple food. |
| Whilst their name derives from a distinctive blue head | | | | One health issue to watch out for with this species is |
| this parrot has a number of subtle color markings. The | | | | that these generally healthy birds have a disposition to |
| blue of the head extends some way down the chest | | | | aspergillosis. This fungal disease is marked by poor |
| to the green body. When examined closely it can be | | | | breathing. In addition to this a swollen eye ring can be a |
| seen that they have red coloring beneath their tail | | | | sign of a nasal blockage. Finally, the pionus can exhibit |
| feathers and some dashes of yellow on the wing | | | | flaky bills, but this is just a sign of intensive use rather |
| coverts. The mandible (lower jaw area) is black, but | | | | than something to be concerned over. If you breed |
| has reddish areas at the sides. You will also note | | | | your pet you can expect a clutch of three to five |
| some reddish feathers around the ceres (a soft, fleshy | | | | eggs. |