General

Thick-billed Parrot: Large, green parrot with dark thick bill, orange bare-skinned eye-ring, and red forehead, shoulders, and thighs. In flight shows striking black tail and flight feathers, with bright green, yellow, and red patches on wing coverts. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has paler gray bill, bare gray skin around eye, and reduced red on head and wings.

Range and Habitat

Thick-billed Parrot: Resident in the Sierra Madre Occidental of western Mexico. Formerly ranged as far north as southern Arizona; attempts to reestablish these populations have not been successful. Inhabits mature pine and conifer forests on slopes and mountains, but populations are declining due to deforestation.

Breeding and Nesting

Thick-billed Parrot: Lays one to four glossy white eggs. Female incubates for 25 to 28 days while male brings her food. Altricial young remain in nest 59 to 65 days. Breeding coincides with pine seed crops, usually beginning in April or May.

Foraging and Feeding

Thick-billed Parrot: Extracts seeds from pinecones; flocks of several to hundreds of birds travel long distances in search of food.

Vocalization

Thick-billed Parrot: Makes a harsh, rolling "craa-aak" but also many other screams, squawks, and laughing calls.

Similar Species

Thick-billed Parrot: Other green parrots lack red shoulders.