About Graydidascalus brachyurus (Kuhl, 1820)
Taxonomy and Size
The short-tailed parrot (scientific name Graydidascalus brachyurus (Kuhl, 1820)) measures 24 to 25 cm (9.4 to 9.8 in) in length and weighs 188 to 233 g (6.6 to 8.2 oz). It has a large head and, as its common name suggests, a very short tail.
Adult Plumage Base Color
Adult short-tailed parrots are almost entirely green, with yellowish green coloring on their underparts and uppertail coverts. Their lores are dark, and this dark coloring extends behind the eye.
Wing Features
Their primaries are a darker green, and their wing coverts have yellow edges. They have a reddish brown shoulder patch that is rarely visible except when the bird is in flight.
Tail and Soft Part Features
Their outer tail feathers have red bands at the base. Their bill varies in color from light green to dark gray, and their iris is orange-red.
Immature Plumage
Immature birds resemble adults, except they have no red on their tail.
Inland Distribution Range
The short-tailed parrot is found along the Amazon River and its tributaries, ranging from southern Colombia, northeastern Ecuador, and northeastern Peru to the Atlantic Ocean. Its range also extends north along the coast of Brazil into northeastern French Guiana.
Habitat Types
Along the region's rivers, it inhabits várzea, swampy floodplains, and islands; along the coast, it inhabits mangroves. It also occurs locally in cultivated areas.
Elevation Range
In terms of elevation, it is found from sea level up to about 400 m (1,310 ft).
