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. First five outer secondaries are red with violet blue tips; primaries are black and slightly tinged with dark blue on tips, bare orbital ring is white; cheeks and ear coverts are bright green with bluish gray extending from above the eye down the sides of the neck. Bill is yellow-pink; legs are gray. Female and juvenile have less red on crown.

Range and Habitat

Red-crowned Parrot: This species is native to northeastern Mexico and prefers pine-oak ridges and the tropical forests of canyons. Resident populations of escaped captive birds have been established in southern and central California, central Texas, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and southern Florida and the Florida Keys.

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: They feed on a variety of fruits, including ebony, strangler fig, coma, anacua, seeds, nuts, berries, buds and flowers. Foraging is generally restricted to early morning and late afternoon. They appear to be opportunistic. They forage in flocks or in pairs. They are messy eaters, holding fruit in their 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.