Pionus maximiliani (Kuhl, 1820)

Size and Weight

The scaly-headed parrot (Pionus maximiliani (Kuhl, 1820)) measures 25 to 29 cm (9.8 to 11 in) long and weighs 233 to 293 g (8.2 to 10 oz).

Nominate Adult Head Plumage

For the nominate subspecies P. m. maximiliani, adult birds have a blackish brown forehead and mid-crown. The rest of the head, nape, and upper back are dark greenish bronze; the darker edges of these feathers create the scaly pattern that gives the species its common name.

Facial Features

The eye is surrounded by arcs of bare white skin both above and below.

Body and Wing Plumage

The lower back and wings are dull green with lighter scaling. The throat and upper breast are dull blue, which shifts to yellowish green on the belly.

Tail Plumage

The undertail coverts and the base of the tail are red. Inner tail feathers are green, while outer tail feathers are blue.

Immature Plumage

Immature birds have a paler green head and less blue on the breast than adult birds.

P. m. melanoblepharus Traits

Four subspecies are recognized beyond the nominate: P. m. melanoblepharus is larger than the nominate, with darker green areas, darker blue breast, and dark skin surrounding the eye.

P. m. siy Traits

P. m. siy is also darker than the nominate, with a reddish purple chin and throat.

P. m. lacerus Traits

P. m. lacerus is similar to P. m. siy but larger, with more blue on the breast that is also more intense.

Nominate Subspecies Distribution

The recognized subspecies have distinct distributions: P. m. maximiliani occurs in northeastern and east-central Brazil, ranging from Ceará and Piauí south to Goiás and Bahia.

P. m. siy Distribution

P. m. siy is found in central and southeastern Bolivia, western and central Paraguay, west-central Brazil, and extends into northern Argentina.

P. m. lacerus Distribution

P. m. lacerus is restricted to the Salta, Tucumán, and Catamarca provinces of northwestern Argentina.

P. m. melanoblepharus Distribution

P. m. melanoblepharus ranges from southeastern Brazil starting at Minas Gerais, south through eastern Paraguay, and into the Misiones and Corrientes provinces of northeastern Argentina.

Habitat General

The scaly-headed parrot lives in a variety of landscapes that differ across its geographic range.

Northern and Western Habitat

In the northern and western parts of its range, it favors deciduous and gallery forest found in the somewhat dry caatinga and Chaco regions.

Southeastern Habitat

In the southeastern part of its range, it occurs in more humid evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, including those dominated by Araucaria.

Elevation Range

In Brazil, it occurs at elevations up to 1,500 to 1,600 m (4,900 to 5,200 ft), while in Argentina it can be found up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft).

Feral Population in Spain

Feral scaly-headed parrots have been observed breeding in parks in Málaga, Spain since 2017.

Hybridization Record

One recorded case in Spain involved a female scaly-headed parrot successfully raising hybrid offspring with a male orange-winged amazon (Amazona amazonica).