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Mexican Parrots
Maroon-fronted & Thick-billed Parrots
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There are only a few parrot species in the world that live in temperate climates. In Mexico, we are proud to have two of them. The maroon-fronted (Rhynchopsitta terrisi) and the thick-billed (R. pachyrhyncha) parrots live in the pine-oak forests of the Sierra Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre Occidental mountain ranges. The thick-billed parrot once lived in Arizona and New Mexico in the United States, but they stopped migrating into the U.S. in the 1930's.
Maroon-fronted and thick-billed parrots are so similar that they were once thought to be the same species. Both are robust birds, dark green in color with a red patch on the wings, a strong black beak (in adults), and a bare yellow ring around the eyes. The main differences are that maroon-fronted are slightly larger (from 40-45 cm), and have a maroon patch on the forehead. The thick-billed parrots have a red patch on the forehead and yellow feathers under the wings.
Both species share many other characteristics. Both eat pine seeds (pinyon nuts), agave flowers and fruits, and acorns. They also both nest during the summer so that the chicks hatch when the pinyon nuts are plentiful. There are some differences, however. Maroon-fronted parrots nest in holes on steep limestone cliffs, while thick-bills nest in holes in trees previously used by other large birds such as woodpeckers.
It is very thrilling to watch them fly. First, you hear the loud calls in the distance. Then with luck, you can see the little dots in the sky flying in "V" formation.
Little was known about these species until recently when researchers from Mexico and other countries started studying their natural history (see the profiles of Claudia Macias-Caballero and Noel Snyder). Thanks to their findings, several important areas of habitat have been identified and are now being protected. However, it will be our responsibility to ensure that these spectacular birds keep flying in the mountain skies.
©2000
The Wild Ones
c/o Wildlife Trust
61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964-8000
Tel: 845.365.8337 Fax: 845.365.8177