General

Red-crowned Parrot: Medium-sized parrot with dark-scaled, green upperparts and paler green underparts. Forehead, crown, and lores are bright red (bases of feathers yellow). Sides of neck are violet blue. First five outer secondaries are red with violet blue tips; primaries are black and slightly tinged with dark blue on tips. Bill is yellow-pink; legs are gray. Female has less red on crown.

Range and Habitat

Red-crowned Parrot: Native to northeastern Mexico in pine-oak ridges and tropical forests of canyons. Feral populations are established in southern California, Texas, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Florida.

Breeding and Nesting

Red-crowned Parrot: Two to five white eggs are laid in a tree cavity with no lining or other material added. Both parents search for a nest cavity, but the female makes the final selection.

Foraging and Feeding

Red-crowned Parrot: Eats a variety of fruits, including ebony, strangler fig, coma, and anacua, seeds (including pine seeds), nuts, berries, buds, and flowers. Usually lands on higher parts of tree crown, moving towards most profitable areas on tree; occasionally feeds in bushes; forages in flocks or in pairs. A messy eater, holding fruit in its feet and taking only a bite or two before dropping it to the ground.

Readily Eats

Berries, Nuts, Fruit, Seeds, Flowers, Buds

Vocalization

Red-crowned Parrot: Makes a squawking, harsh "kee-crah-crah-crah" and a smooth "rreeoo" or "heeeyo."

Similar Species

Red-crowned Parrot: Other green parrots lack red crowns and foreheads.