Pyrilia caica
The Caica Parrot, *Pyrilia caica*, is a vibrant medium-sized parrot, measuring approximately 23 cm (9 inches) in length and weighing around 120-145 grams. Its most striking feature, and namesake, is the bright orange-red thighs contrasting with an overall emerald green body plumage. The head is a distinctive dark brown to blackish-brown, sharply demarcated from the green body by a narrow, creamy-white collar on the nape and hindneck. The wing coverts are green, while primary flight feathers a...
This species primarily inhabits lowland humid evergreen forests, typically below 500 meters, but occasionally up to 1000 meters in montane foothills. It shows a preference for pristine primary forests, but can also be found in mature secondary growth and forest edges, often near rivers or swampy ...
Their diet consists mainly of fruits, seeds, nuts, and possibly flowers, primarily sourced from a variety of canopy trees. They use their strong bills to crack open hard shells and access seeds.
Caica Parrots are typically observed in pairs or small family groups, occasionally forming larger flocks of up to 20 individuals outside the breeding season. They are arboreal and primarily forage in the canopy, often hanging upside down to reach fruits and seeds. While generally vocal in flight ...
The Caica Parrot is endemic to northeastern South America, occupying a relatively restricted range across the Guianas and parts of northern Brazil and eastern Venezuela. Its primary distribution includes Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and extending into adjacent areas of Brazil in the states of...
Near Threatened
- The Caica Parrot's scientific name, *Pyrilia caica*, was formerly *Pionopsitta caica*, reflecting a recent taxonomic reclassification within the parrot family. - Its most distinctive feature, the bright orange-red thighs, is unique among most New World parrots and serves as an instant field mar...