Hawk-headed or Red-fan Parrots
The Hawk-headed Parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus accipitrinus) - also known as the Red-fan Parrot or Guiana Hawk-headed Parrot -- is a South American parrot that is endemic to the Amazon Basin, specifically Brazil and Guiana.
The Hawk-headed Parrot is known for its striking elongated neck feathers that can be raised to form an elaborate fan, thus greatly increasing the bird's apparent size.
This parrot generally lives in forest areas, feeding in the canopy on fruits.
The parrot is often seen swaying from side to side and emitting a whining sound.
This is a threatened species due to the pet trade as well as habitat destruction from deforestation and conversion to pastureland.
Sub-species:
Brazilian Hawk-headed Parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons)
- Native Range: Lower Amazon Basin
- Average Length: 35 cm / 14 in
Description:
This South American parrot is known for its brilliantly colored plumage, and is named for the blue and red feathers around their head that are raised when they become excited or when it feels threatened.
The most striking features are its flashy coloration and its ruff that -- when raised -- reminds us of an Indian headress or a lion's mane.
Both the male and the female have a white fore crown and a brown throat with white streaks. The base of their neck is red edged with blue. The hawk-heads breast and belly are red and edged with electric blue. Their back, wings and tail are green. The underside of their tale is black. Some of the adults have a red spot under the base of their tail, and it is not related to gender.
The juveniles have brown eyes and a lighter color beak. The adults have yellow eyes, a gray-black beak and gray legs.
General Information |
|
| Sexing | Both males and females look alike. DNA or surgical sexing is recommended. |
| Size: | Average Weight: 10 ounces (275 grams) |
| Life Expectancy: | ~ 40 years |
| Talking Ability: | Good |
| Noise Level: | They can be loud with a raucous call that is similar to that of a seagull. |
| Housing: | Minimum Cage Size: 24" x 24 " x 30" ... Bar Spacing: 3/4" to 1" |
| Personality: | Handfed hawk-headed parrots are outgoing, playful, active, mischievous, excitable and occasionally high strung. They can be compared to the conure, which are similarly outgoing and playful, or to the amazon -- but less "bity" and temperamental. Hawk-headed parrots make excellent pets. |
| Diet: | Their natural diet consists of fruits, seeds, nuts, flowers,leaves and buds. Captive Hawk-heads require a diet rich in vitamin A. This special need can be met by feeding plenty of dark greens, such as collards and kale, as well as deep yellow to orange fruits and veggies including cantaloupe, peaches and sweet potatoes. They should receive a varied diet, including myriad veggies, legumes, fruits, greens, pasta and grains. |
| Price & Availability: | Expensive birds, from $1,800 to $2,400. Females are rarer and usually cost more. They are not easy to breed and not too common in the United States. They are rarely found in a pet store. You would have to contact a breeder. The cost of a Hawk-Headed Parrot usually runs between $1,200 and $1,800. |
| Natural Habitat: | |
| Range: | Western and Central South America; Amazon Basin-Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuala
|
| Habitat: | Humid forests, savannas, woodlands |
| Breeding: | |
| Hawk-headed parrots mate for life. The male hawk-head cares for the female while she incubates the eggs. |
|
| Breeding Season: | December & January |
| Cavity nesters | The pair mate for life and nests in abandoned nest holes or in dead tree trunks and stumps. |
| Number of eggs: | 2 - 4 medium-sized white eggs a year |
| Incubation period: | 25 - 28 days |
| Chicks: | The young start to fledge in the wild at approximately 10 weeks old. Handfed chicks wean at about 4 months. In captivity, chicks are customarily hand raised, because sometimes the male kills his mate and their offspring. |
Taxonomy:
Class: Aves ... Order: Psittaciformes ... Family: Psittacidae ... Sub-Family: Psittacinae
Genus: Scientific: Deroptyus ... English: Hawk-headed Parrot ... Dutch: Kraagpapegaaien ... German: Fächerpapageien ... French: Perroquet maillé
Species: Scientific: Deroptyus accipitrinus accipitrinus aka Amazone accipitrinus accipitrinus ... English: Hawk-headed Parrot, Red-fan Parrot ... Dutch: Kraagpapegaai, Waaierpapegaai ... German: Fächerpapagei ... French: Perroquet maillé ...Sub-Species / Races Including Nominate: accipitrinus, fuscifrons
CITES II: Endangered
Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots
Brazilian Hawk-headed Parrots:
Species: Scientific: Deroptyus accipitrinus fuscifrons aka Amazone accipitrinus fuscifrons ... English: Brazilian Hawk-headed Parrot ... Dutch: Braziliaanse Kraagpapegaai ... German: Dunkelstirniger Fächerpapagei ... French: Perroquet maillé de Brésil
CITES II - Endangered
Native Range: Lower Amazon Basin
Average Length: 35 cm / 14 in
Related Web Resources: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 2 - click on link to view photo).
Photo, Video and/or Article contributions are welcome! Please click here for info
The Avianweb strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please send us an e-mail. THANK YOU!
