White-bellied Parrot

Overview

The white-bellied parrot, or Pionites leucogaster, is a chunky, short-tailed bird in the subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae. It is found across parts of South America, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru.

Identification

• Body length ranges from 23 to 25 cm with a weight of about 155 g.
• Adults of the nominate subspecies feature mostly yellow heads with orange crowns and napes, dull green upperparts, and white lower breasts and bellies.
• The bill is pale horn-colored with a bright pinkish cere, and the legs and feet are bright pink.
• Vocalisations include a high-pitched, harsh, squealing flight call and varied perched notes ranging from loud high-pitched sounds to subdued whistles.

Habitat

The species inhabits humid tropical forests, including both terra firme and várzea, with a preference for forest edges and openings rather than the closed interior. Its range extends across Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, with different subspecies occupying distinct regions such as east of the Ucayali River in Peru or south of the Amazon in Brazil.

Diet

The diet consists of fruits from trees and palms as well as flowers. Little is known about the specific foraging techniques of this bird.

Did you know?

The white breast feathers of the white-bellied parrot are often stained a chestnut brown colour, likely due to tannins absorbed while bathing by rubbing their bodies against wet leaves and plant matter. Additionally, the head and nape plumage has been observed to fluoresce strongly under ultraviolet light.