BIRDS
PARROTS OF BRAZIL
Introduction:
The present work is directed to the layperson, to the birdwatcher and interested people in general for our birdfauna and it has the purpose of propitiating the chance of knowing a little about Psittacidae of Brazil, for making easier the identification of the interesting and pretty species of this family. So this is the reason for this work not having a scientific work pretension, despite the concern of giving information next to scientific reality.
Family PSITTACIDAE is composed by macaws, parrots and parakeets, whose features soon call the attention, therefore they are birds that exhibit showy colors in their plumage, varying of green, red, blue yellow and, being common in some species two or more colors in a very pretty and showy combination.
Some times it is difficult for identifying species of this family in nature, therefore normally they are flying in a great distance. So it is good knowing the characteristic vocalization of each specie, despite the difficulty because it is needed much devotion and study, beyond demanding that the birdwatcher have an " excellent ear ". If talking about the birds of the sort ARA it becomes easier because of the well distinct features among species, which possess different size and predominant colors.Physical features:
The birds of this family possess round peak, short legs what give them a characteristic movement that is of " walking on twigs ", being thus eminent "climbers".Reproduction:
They mainly live in couples that form bands, in the parakeets, maitacas and tuins. They place eggs in socket, mainly in trees. The eggs are rounded off and normally white.
Vocalization:
They are very noisy, what put them in danger, therefore they call the attention of hunters; for example, the shouts of a plough can be heard in great pitches. This family is also famous for being composed of some species that can "speak " as the parrots (sort Amazon) , whose repertoire is very rich being able to imitate the human voice, from there to be very appreciated as a pet, what has cost their freedom.Feed:
They feed from fruits seeds (also of fruits pulp as P. frontalis observed by A. Silveira- in Itatiaia National Park) and coconut of some palm species.Longevity:
Psittacidae has great longevity living 80 years, or more.Species:
There are 344 species of Psittacidae in the world and the country that possess the biggest number of species is Brazil, with 72 catalogued species. (Sick, 1997).
Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus, (Arara-azul-grande, Hyacinthine Macaw), Anodorhynchus leari (Arara-azul-pequena, Indigo Macaw), Anodorhynchus glaucus (Glaucous Macaw), Cyanopsitta spixii (Ararinha-azul, Little Blue Macaw), Aratinga guarouba, (Golden Parakeet), Pyrrhura devillei (Blaze-winged Parakeet), Amazona pretrei(Red-spectacled Parrot) e Triclaria malachitacea (Sabiá-cica, Blue-belied Parrot) are threatened of extinction. Cyanopsitta spixii (Ararinha-azul, Little Blue Macaw) has only one in the nature that live in Curuçá (PE).
Curiosities:
The biggest Psittacidae of the world is the Hyacinthine Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus,) that can have 98 cm and regret 1,5kg.
In Africa live the likeable parakeets of Agapornis sort, which are very appreciated by the creators for its docility and beauty. It also occurs with the Australian Cacatuas and the Perakeets, both originaries of Australia, a very rich country in this family also.
Psittacidae normally couple for all the life, keeping the pair for all the time.Relation of Brazilian Macaws, Parrots and Parakeets
Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus, Arara-azul-grande,Hyacinthine Macaw
Anodorhynchus leari, Arara-azul-pequena,Indigo Macaw
Anodorhynchus glaucus, Glaucous Macaw
Cyanopsitta spixii, Ararinha-azul,Little Blue Macaw
Ara ararauna, Arara-canindé,Blue-and-Yellow Macaw
Ara macao, Araracanga,Scarlet Macaw
Ara chloroptera, Arara-vermelha,Red-and-Green Macaw
Ara severa, Chestnut-fronted Macaw
Ara couloni, Blue-headed Macaw
Ara maracana, Maracanã-verdadeira,Blue-winged Macaw
Ara manilata, Maracanã-do-buriti, Red-bellied Macaw
Ara auricollis, Maracanã-de-colar,Golden-collared Macaw
Ara nobilis, Maracanã-pequena,Red-shouldered Macaw
Aratinga guarouba, Ararajuba,Golden Parakeet
Aratinga acuticaudata, Aratinga-de-testa-azul, Blue-crowned Parakeet
Aratinga leucophthalmus, Aratinga-de-bando, White-eyed Parakeet
Aratinga solstitialis, Jandaia-sol, Sun Parakeet
Aratinga weddellii, Aratinga-de-cabeça-escura,Dusky-headed Parakeet
Aratinga pertinax, Aratinga-de-cara-pálida,Brown-throated Parakeet
Aratinga cactorum, Aratinga-vaqueira, Cactus Parakeet
Aratinga aurea, Aratinga-aurea, Peach-fronted Parakeet
Nandayus nenday, Príncipe-negro, Black-hooded Parakeet
Pyrrhura cruentata, Tiriba-grande, Ochre-marked Parakeet
Pyrrhura devillei, Blaze-winged Parakeet
Pyrrhura molinae, Tiriba-de-cauda-vermelha, Green-cheeked Parakeet
Pyrrhura frontalis, Tiriba-de-testa-vermelha, Reddish-bellied Parakeet
Pyrrhura perlata, Tiriba-pérola, Pearly Parakeet
Pyrrhura leucotis, Tiriba-pequena,Maroon-faced Parakeet
Pyrrhura picta, Tiriba-pintada, Painted Parakeet
Pyrrhura egregia, Tiriba-de-testa-azul,
Pyrrhura melanura, Tiriba-fura-mata,Maroon-tailed Parakeet
Pyrrhura rupicola, Tiriba-rupestre,Rock Parakeet
Myiopsitta monachus, Caturrita, Mok Parakeet,
Forpus xanthopterygius, Tuim-de-aza-azul,Blue-winged Parrotlet
Forpus passerinus, Tuim-santo,Green-rumped Parrotlet
Forpus sclateri, Tuim-de-bico-escuro,Dusky-billed Parrotlet
Brotogeris tirica, Periquito-rico, Plain Parakeet
Brotogeris versicolurus, Periquito-de-aza-branca, Canary-winged Parakeet
Brotogeris chiriri, Periquito-de-encontro-amarelo, Yellow-chevrolet Parakeet
Brotogeris cyanoptera, Periquito-de-asa-azul, Cobalt-winged Parakeet
Brotogeris chrysopterus, Tuipara-de-asa-dourada, Golden-winged Parakeet
Brotogeris sanctithomae, Tuipara-testinha,Tui Parakeet
Nannopsittaca panychlora, Periquito-do-tepui,
Touit purpurata, Apuim-de-costa-azul, Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet
Touit melanonota, Apuim-de-costa-preta,Black-eared Parrotlet
Touit huetii, Apuim-de-encontro-vermelho,Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet
Touit surda, Apuim-de-cauda-amarela, Golden-tailed Parrotlet
Pionites melanocephala, Marianinha-de-cabeça-preta,Black-headed Parrot
Pionites leucogaster, Marianinha-decabeça-amarela ,White-bellied leucogaster
Pionopsitta pileata, Curica-cuiú, Red-capped Parrot
Pionopsitta barrabandi, Curica-de-bochecha-laranja, Orange-cheeked Parrot
Pionopsitta caica, Curica-de-cabeça-preta, Caica Parrot
Pionopsitta vulturina, Curica-urubú,Vulturine Parrot
Graydidascalus brachyurus, Papagainho-verde, Short-tailed Parrot
Pionus menstruus, Maitaca-pescoço-azul,Blue-headed Parrot
Pionus maximiliani, Maitaca,Scaly-headed Parrot
Pionus fuscus, Maitaca-roxa, Dusky Parrot
Amazona pretrei, Charão, Red-spectacled Parrot
Amazona autumnalis, Papagaio-diadema, Red-lored Parrot
Amazona brasiliensis, Papagaio-de-cara-roxa,Blue-cheeked Parrot
Amazona festiva, Papagaio-curau, Festive Parrot
Amazona rhodocoritha, Chauá,
Amazona dufresniana, Papagaio-de-bochecha-azul,
Amazona xanthops, Papagio-galego,Yellow-faced Parrot
Amazona aestiva, Papagaio-verdadeiro,Turquoise-fronted Parrot
Amazona ochrocephala, Papagaio-campeiro, Yellow-headed Parrot
Amazona amazonica, Papagaio-do-mangue, Orange-winged Parrot
Amazona farinosa, Papagaio-moleiro, Mealy Parrot
Amazona kawalli, Papagaio-dos-garbes,
Amazona vinacea, Papagaio-de-peito-roxo, Vinaceous-breasted Parrot
Deroptyus acciptrinus, Anacã, Red-fan Parrot
Triclaria malachitacea, Sabiá-cica,Blue-belied Parrot
Used and recommended bibliography
CAMARGO, H. F. A. (1962). Sobre as raças geográficas brasileiras de Amazona brasiliensis (L., 1758) (Aves, Psitacidae). Pap. Avuls. Dept. Zool. São Paulo 15(7): 67-77.
DUNNING, J.S. 1989. South American birds. Newton Square, Harrowood Books. 351p.
FORSHAW, J.M. 1989. Parrots of the world. Third (revised) Edition. Melbourne: Lansdowne Editions.
HOWARD, R.; MOORE, A. 1991. A complete checklist of te birds of theworld. 2. ed. London, Academic Press.
SCHAUENSEE, R.M. de. A Guide to the Birds of South America. ICBP, 1982.
SICK, Helmut. Ornitologia Brasileira. Ed.Nova Fronteira.1997
SOUZA, Deodato. Todas as aves do Brasil. Ed. DALL. 1998.
Click on the species and watch the filmsPyrrhura frontalis, Tiriba-de-testa-vermelha, Reddish-bellied Parakeet
Amazona aestiva, Papagaio-verdadeiro,Turquoise-fronted Parrot
PS: Films are in MPG format, being necessary Real Player, Windows Media Player or alike for watching them.
