Thick-billed Parrot
Encyclopedia
The Thick-billed Parrot, Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha is an endangered, medium-sized, up to 38 cm long, bright green parrot
with a large black bill and a red forecrown, shoulder and thighs. It is found in Mexico
, and its former range extended marginally into the United States
.
with a large black bill and a red forecrown, shoulder and thighs. Adult eyes are amber, while juveniles have brown eyes. The rest of the bird is bright green. Thick-billed Parrots show red shoulders and leading edge on the underwing, followed by a blackish green stripe, then a yellow stripe, followed by the remaining underwing showing dark green. It appears to show a blackish tail.
, mature pine-oak
and fir
forests from 1200 to 3600 meters. For the most part, it is restricted to the Sierra Madre Occidental
of Mexico, though it used to live in the southwestern United States.
The Thick-billed Parrot likes to nest in tree cavities, especially old woodpecker
holes. It mainly feeds on seeds from various pine species, so much so their entire lives revolve around cone production. Flocks of these parrots roost by cliffs and they breed at the peak of pine seed production. It is nomadic
, following the variations of cone abundance. The bird sounds like a high pitched macaw and makes a variety of harsh, rolling calls. They are adept fliers.
and illegal bird trading gives the Thick-billed Parrot its endangered status on the IUCN Red List
of Threatened Species and listing on Appendix I of CITES. It is estimated that only 1000-4000 Thick-billed Parrots exist. However, this last living parrot species native to the United States is well-established in captive breeding programs in many zoos across the world. Birds had been reintroduced in Arizona
in the early 1980s, but this effort turned out to be unsuccessful. The parrots could not adapt to avoiding natural predators.
region), though well planned was dramatically impacted by predation. Due to extensive human development, residency, agriculture
, etc., high numbers of predator species exist, especially hawks, and especially the goshawk. The bird loss was especially high to these now well-emplaced predator species. A future attempt at introduction would have to include an ecosystem area that somehow limits the success of the numerous predator species.
(a northeastern Mexican environmental NGO) and Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education
have been monitoring 700 nests of Thick-Billed Parrots in Chihuahua. Through conservation easements with the ejido
s, the organization has created sanctuaries for the protection of the bird's habitat.
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
with a large black bill and a red forecrown, shoulder and thighs. It is found in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and its former range extended marginally into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Description
The Thick-billed Parrot is a medium-sized, up to 38 cm (15 in) long, bright green parrotParrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
with a large black bill and a red forecrown, shoulder and thighs. Adult eyes are amber, while juveniles have brown eyes. The rest of the bird is bright green. Thick-billed Parrots show red shoulders and leading edge on the underwing, followed by a blackish green stripe, then a yellow stripe, followed by the remaining underwing showing dark green. It appears to show a blackish tail.
Distribution and habitat
The Thick-billed Parrot lives in temperate conifer, pinePine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
, mature pine-oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
and fir
Fir
Firs are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range...
forests from 1200 to 3600 meters. For the most part, it is restricted to the Sierra Madre Occidental
Sierra Madre Occidental
The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western Mexico.-Setting:The range runs north to south, from just south of the Sonora–Arizona border southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins...
of Mexico, though it used to live in the southwestern United States.
Behavior
Woodpecker
Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They are one subfamily in the family Picidae, which also includes the piculets and wrynecks. They are found worldwide and include about 180 species....
holes. It mainly feeds on seeds from various pine species, so much so their entire lives revolve around cone production. Flocks of these parrots roost by cliffs and they breed at the peak of pine seed production. It is nomadic
Nomad (disambiguation)
A nomad is a member of a people, or species, that moves from place to place.Nomad may also refer to:- Places :* Nomad, Papua New Guinea, a major centre of the Middle Fly District of Western Province of Papua New Guinea...
, following the variations of cone abundance. The bird sounds like a high pitched macaw and makes a variety of harsh, rolling calls. They are adept fliers.
Status
Habitat destructionHabitat destruction
Habitat destruction is the process in which natural habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species present. In this process, the organisms that previously used the site are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity. Habitat destruction by human activity mainly for the purpose of...
and illegal bird trading gives the Thick-billed Parrot its endangered status on the IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
of Threatened Species and listing on Appendix I of CITES. It is estimated that only 1000-4000 Thick-billed Parrots exist. However, this last living parrot species native to the United States is well-established in captive breeding programs in many zoos across the world. Birds had been reintroduced in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
in the early 1980s, but this effort turned out to be unsuccessful. The parrots could not adapt to avoiding natural predators.
Arizona reintroduction
The re-introduction into the mountains of southeastern Arizona (the Madrean sky islandsMadrean sky islands
The Madrean Sky Islands are enclaves of Madrean pine-oak woodlands, found at higher elevations in a complex of small mountain ranges in southern and southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico. The sky islands are surrounded at lower elevations by the Sonoran and...
region), though well planned was dramatically impacted by predation. Due to extensive human development, residency, agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, etc., high numbers of predator species exist, especially hawks, and especially the goshawk. The bird loss was especially high to these now well-emplaced predator species. A future attempt at introduction would have to include an ecosystem area that somehow limits the success of the numerous predator species.
Conservation
For more than 10 years, Pronatura NorestePronatura Noreste
Pronatura Noreste is a Mexican non-government, non-profit organization, recognized by the National Council of Science and Technology as a scientific and educational organization. Pronatura Noreste is one of six regional offices of the Pronatura family, and has its headquarters in Monterrey, Nuevo...
(a northeastern Mexican environmental NGO) and Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education
Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education
The Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education commonly shortened as Monterrey Institute of Technology or Monterrey Tech is one of the largest private, nonsectarian and coeducational multi-campus universities in...
have been monitoring 700 nests of Thick-Billed Parrots in Chihuahua. Through conservation easements with the ejido
Ejido
The ejido system is a process whereby the government promotes the use of communal land shared by the people of the community. This use of community land was a common practice during the time of Aztec rule in Mexico...
s, the organization has created sanctuaries for the protection of the bird's habitat.
External links
- ITESM Site
- ARKive - images and movies of the Thick-billed Parrot (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha)
- IUCN Red List
- Pronatura Noreste in Sierra Madre Occidental
- Stamps for MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... - Thick-billed Parrot videos on the Internet Bird Collection