Pileated Parrot Pionopsitta pileata Scientific name definitions

The Red-capped Parrot is a stocky, largely-green parrot of foothill forest in southeastern Brazil, eastern Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina. "Red-capped Parrot" is a descriptive name for this species, but unfortunately also is the name of a Red-capped Parrot (Purpureicephalus spurius) found in Australia; therefore the more awkward name "Pileated Parrot" sometimes is used for the South American species. In common with most species of parrots, it feeds on fruits and seeds and nests in tree cavities. This parrot is resident in most of its range, but is seasonal in occurrence at some sites, suggesting local migration or nomadic movements. The flight is fast and direct, and typically this parrot flies high above the canopy, in pairs or in very small groups.

22 cm; 98–120 g. Forehead , crown  and lores to upper ear-coverts red  , though extent of this rather variable; rest of body green  , but becoming yellowish on abdomen, and with dull blue in primary-coverts, primaries, edges to outer wing-coverts and tail-feathers  , and tail tips. Female lacks red on head  , but has blue suffusion on forehead and breast. Immature male  has reduced red on head, female reduced blue on wings.

SE Brazil (SE Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul), E Paraguay and NE Argentina (Misiones).

Mainly humid foothill forest up to 1500 m in N of range, extending into Araucaria-dominated and lowland formations in S, including partially cleared areas.

Some movements between coastal and interior areas occur, with presence in Oct in Amambay, Paraguay; strikingly nomadic at Intervales State Park, São Paulo.

Virtually unknown. Fruits of Podocarpus and “cambuí”, seeds of Solanum mauricianum, bark of Eucalyptus. Also recorded feeding on fruits of <em>Livistona chinensis</em> , <em>Philodendron bipinnatifidum</em> and Eremanthus sp.  .

Flight call is a rather high-pitched, shrieking “skreee” or a somewhat lower-pitched “kurrurreee” (with last syllable upslurred). When perched, utters a wider variety of calls with a similar tonal quality.

Apparently Nov. Nest in hole in tree. Eggs two, but 3–4 in captivity where incubation, by female only, lasted 24 days and nestling period 52–54 days.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). CITES I. Much reduced by extensive habitat loss throughout range, but still persists in reasonable numbers where cover extensive, notably Paraná and adjacent states, Brazil; it remains common in the Alto Paraná region, Paraguay. There appear to be no recent records from Corrientes, Argentina, but still common in Misiones.