Photo: Danbrazil / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Parrots

Scaly-headed Parrot

Pionus maximiliani

Scaly-headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani) — Parrots & Cockatoos of South America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Argentina Birds of Brazil Birds of Spain Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of Mexico Birds of Portugal Birds of the United States Birds of England Birds of Lancashire Birds of California

By family

Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Argentina Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Brazil Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Spain Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of the United Kingdom Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Mexico Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of Portugal Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of the United States Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of England Parrots, Cockatoos & Allies of California

See what's near you right now

The Scaly-headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani) is a member of the Psittacidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 293 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Psittaciformes
Family Psittacidae African & New World Parrots
Genus Pionus
Species maximiliani

Where it lives

South-central, southeastern, eastern

South America

Quick facts

Weight: 293 g
Diet: Seed-eaters
Family: Psittacidae
Order: Psittaciformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Near Threatened

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Scaly-headed Parrot is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.

Migration

The Scaly-headed Parrot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Scaly-headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani) is a species of bird in the Psittacidae family, part of the order Psittaciformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA sc, se, e.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 293 g, with a wing length of about 18.4 cm and a tail of around 8.7 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.5 million km².

Songs & calls

Scaly-headed Parrot — Call

Recorded by Marcos E. Sosa Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Scaly-headed Parrot?

The Scaly-headed Parrot is a large bird that weighs around 293 g.

Where does the Scaly-headed Parrot live?

The Scaly-headed Parrot is found across South America with a range covering SA sc, se, e, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Scaly-headed Parrot belong to?

The Scaly-headed Parrot (Pionus maximiliani) belongs to the Psittacidae family, in the order Psittaciformes.

What does the Scaly-headed Parrot eat?

The Scaly-headed Parrot is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.

Does the Scaly-headed Parrot migrate?

The Scaly-headed Parrot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Scaly-headed Parrot endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Scaly-headed Parrot make?

1 real field recording of the Scaly-headed Parrot — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Scaly-headed Parrot's range?

The Scaly-headed Parrot has a mapped global range of about 4.5 million km².