White-bellied parrot

Description

The green-thighed parrot (Pionites leucogaster leucogaster) is a subspecies of White-bellied caique belong into the family Psittacidae.The species Pionites leucogaster (also known as the white-bellied parrot or white-bellied caique in the aviculture business) contains three subspecies including the nominate race,but recent morphological work suggests the species should be split into three.It is found in humid forest and wooded habitats in the Amazon south of the Amazon River in Brazil.It is generally fairly common throughout its range and is easily seen in a wide range of protected areas,such as the Cristalino State Park (near Alta Floresta),Xingu National Park and Amazônia National Park in Brazil.The green-thighed parrot has an orange-yellow head and vent,a white belly,green wings,thighs and back,bluish primary feathers,a pinkish-horn beak,and pinkish legs and feet.Juveniles have brownish or black feathers on the head and nape,yellow feathers on the white belly,and greyish legs.Generally,the off-colored feathers will be lost and replaced by orange or white feathers respectively as the bird matures.Young birds also have dark brown irises,which will change to a rust or orange with age.The white breast feathers of wild caiques are often stained a chestnut brown (or "isobel") color.This may be due to tannin staining,as result of their particular affinity for bathing by rubbing their bodies against wet leaves and other plant matter.The head and nape plumage of the white-bellied parrot has been observed to fluoresce strongly under ultraviolet light.