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Parrots of Guyana (Psittacidae)

Scarlet Macaw, taken by Gerard op Vet Veld

Red Fan Parrot, taken by Chris Collins

Due to habitat loss (often attributed to deforestation) and the trappings of birds for the wildlife trade, the Parrot family has one of the highest numbers of endangered or threatened species of birds in the world. Wild populations are dwindling in many of their native habitats, but within Guyana’s stronghold of tropical forests, Parrot species are fairly numerous and the birds can be quite easy to spot. Guyana has 28 different species of Parrots, including six species of Macaws; six species of Parakeets; six species of Parrotlets; and ten species of Parrots.

Identification

Many species of parrots spend the majority of their time in the dense, green foliage of tropical rainforest and can be difficult to spot. Often, their loud screeches and squawks can be heard before the birds’ bright colors can be seen, because while their colors – a range of blues, greens, purples, reds and yellows – stand out marvelously when they are soaring, they actually blend in well with the natural hues of the tropical forest.

Birds within the Parrot family tend to have large heads relative to their body size, with very short necks and legs. Another key defining feature of Parrot species is their bill, which has a broad base often covered by the curved and sharply pointed beak that is used to crush nuts and seeds. Their scaly tongues have bones inside that help penetrate unripe fruits. Parrots also have zygodactyl feet – the middle two toes point forwards and outer two point backwards – that provide great grip that is used for climbing and eating. Most Parrots have a long tail and a bare patch of skin around their eyes and above their beaks.

Behavior

Parrots often roost in social groups of 10-30 birds and wake up just before dawn to make their way towards feeding areas. (This early-morning hour is a particularly good time to view flocks of parrots and macaws just above tree canopy height.) After a few hours of feeding in the morning, the birds often break to rest, bathe, drink and socialize. The afternoon is spent feeding again and just before sunset the birds return to their roosting areas. Once back in their roosting groups, the birds squawk and chatter amongst each other excitedly and loudly before settling in for the night. Parrots are intelligent and social birds and their many vocalizations are used to communicate, verbally mark their territory and identify who is nearby.

As their main food source comes from plant and tree materials, nearly all parrot species are mostly or exclusively arboreal. A Parrot’s diet consists of various plant parts, including seeds, fruits, nuts, blossoms, leaves, berries, nectar, pollen and buds. Some species also rely on insects and snails as a source of protein. Many species of Parrots also ingest clay and mineral-rich soil in a practice that is believed to help neutralize toxins found in some plants.

In breeding, Parrots are mainly monogamous and often mate for life. Most nest in holes in the upper forest canopy; the female incubates egg clutches while the male spends time gathering food to feed the female and any young, which typically remain with their parents for up to two years.

Habitat

Most parrots are found in forested habitats in tropical and subtropical regions. Some species are also found in savannas habitats, such as the Rupununi Savanna of Guyana. As Parrots rely on the trees for food, they are especially fond of lowland tropical forests because it is here where a great variety of trees (and therefore food) exist.

Within Guyana

Guyana is becoming famous for its expansive pristine rainforests and rich bio-diversity, and parrots are found in numbers throughout the country. All of Guyana’s top birding locations provide birdwatchers plenty of opportunity to see parrots, and we will just name a few. Right in Botanical Gardens of Georgetown itself, there are five species of Amazon Parrots, including the Festive, Mealy, Orange-winged, Yellow-crowned and Blue-cheeked. Blue-and-yellow, Red-bellied, Red-shouldered and Chestnut-fronted Macaws, Brown-throated Parakeets and Green-rumped Parrotlets can also be found in the Gardens.

The Iwokrama International Centre is an ideal place to spot many of Guyana’s Parrot species, including Blue-and-yellow, Scarlet, Red-and-green, Red-bellied, and Red-shouldered Macaws; Brown-throated, Painted and Golden-winged Parakeets; Tepui, Lilac-tailed, Scarlet-shouldered and Sapphire-rumped Parrotlets; and all ten species of Parrots found in Guyana.

Another increasingly popular location to find an array of Parrots and Macaws is at Nappi, a small Makushi Amerindian village outside of Lethem where the Rupununi Savannas converge with the foothills of the Kanuku Mountains. Thanks to Foster Parrots Ltd. (www.fosterparrots.com), Nappi has a beautiful new ecolodge and 250 square miles of protected lands at the base of the species-rich Kanuku Mountains.

In an effort to provide the local villagers with an alternative to income gained by exploiting the land (through the wildlife trade, logging and mining), Foster Parrots agreed to build the ecolodge for the village of Nappi based on their agreement to declare 144,000 acres of tribal territory, and all wildlife within, as protected. The ecotourism project is community run and all profits go directly back to the village. The area is especially rich in Red-bellied, Scarlet, Red-and-green, and Blue-and-yellow Macaws, as well as Giant Anteaters, a variety of primates and jaguars.

Parrots of Guyana Checklist (From A Field Checklist of the Birds of Guyana, 2nd Edition, Smithsonian Institution)

• Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna)
• Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)
• Red-and-green Macaw (Ara chloropterus)
• Chestnut-fronted Macaw (Ara severus)
• Red-bellied Macaw (Orthopsittaca manilata)
• Red-shouldered Macaw (Diopsittaca nobilis)
• White-eyed Parakeet (Aratinga leucophthalma)
• Sun Parakeet (Aratinga solstitialis)
• Brown-throated Parakeet (Aratinga pertinax)
• Painted Parakeet (Pyrrhura picta)
• Fiery-shouldered Parakeet (Pyrrhura egregia)
• Green-rumped Parrotlet (Forpus passerinus)
• Dusky-billed Parrotlet (Forpus sclateri)
• Golden-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris chrysoptera)
• Tepui Parrotlet (Nannopsittaca panychlora)
• Lilac-tailed Parrotlet (Touit batavicus)
• Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet (Touit huetii)
• Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet (Touit purpuratus)
• Black-headed Parrot (Pionites melanocephalus)
• Caica Parrot (Gypopsitta caica)
• Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus)
• Dusky Parrot (Pionus fuscus)
• Blue-cheeked Parrot (Amazona dufresniana)
• Festive Parrot (Amazona festiva)
• Yellow-crowned Parrot (Amazona ochrocephala)
• Orange-winged Parrot (Amazona amazonica)
• Mealy Parrot (Amazona farinose)
• Red-fan Parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus)

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