Maroon Bellied Parakeet

Photo copyright: monacoeye • Do not copy • Images: Itatiaia, RJ • November 2009

Bird name: Maroon Bellied Parakeet
Latin: Pyrrhura leucotis
Other: White-eared Parrot • Tiriba-de-testa-vermelha (Br) Tiriba-de-orelha-branca
Family: Psittacidae • Parakeets

The Maroon-bellied Parakeet was the most abundant parrot near the hotels in Itatiaia, though other types were glimpsed and heard, while walking around.

The Maroon-bellied Parakeet, which is found in Eastern Brazil, is mostly green, with white eye-ring, light yellowish neck and chest, greyish ear coverts, some red on the belly and reddish tail. Bill black with light band at top and sometimes red visible just above.

The White-eared Parrot, sometimes lumped, extends into Venezuela.

Parrots are some of the most frustrating birds to photograph. They are extremely loud and visible as they make their periodic fast dashes over the canopy in groups. But as soon as they settle in a tree they become silent almost invisible. I got the feeling that they were often around but I just couldn’t see them!