Deroptyus accipitrinus
The Hawk-headed Parrot lives in the Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Brazil and Ecuador. They inhabit undisturbed lowland rain forests on higher ground. They feed on fruits, seeds, nuts, berries, leaf buds, and vegetable matter.
The crest or ruff configuration of this bird is unique in parrots. When the hawk-head becomes alarmed or feels defensive, their nape feathers raise to form a fan. Interestingly, the structure of the beak and neck suggest that Hawk-headed parrots are uniquely adapted to feed on very large fruits that are usually untouched by the Amazons: they are capable of detaching these large and heavy fruits from the tree and carrying them to another location in order to feed.
The Hawk-headed parrots are usually social, found in small groups of four to seven birds. They eat a wide variety of fruits, seeds, nuts, leaves and buds.
It is not a good idea to have this parrot as pet, because in captivity it often develops an irritable and aggressive attitude, both toward its pet owner and toward its possible mate.
The above picture was taken in the Attica Zoological Park, Athens, Greece, in June 2007.
Subfamily Arinae
Family Psittacidae
Order Psittaciformes
Class Aves
Subphylum Vertebrata
Phylum Chordata
Kingdom Animalia
Life on Earth
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