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BARRED PARAKEET  Bolborhynchus lineola 16.5–18cm. Small parakeet of

humid highland forest, adjacent second growth with seeding bamboo. In pairs

or small groups, seasonally larger flocks to 50 or so birds. Often seen overhead

in flight (or simply heard from within low clouds and fog), rarely perched.

Flight rapid and slightly bounding. Note small size, pointed tail, voice. Dark

barring variable, strongest on adult male. SOUNDS: Shrill, short screeching and

chirping calls, krrieh and krieh-kriet, etc.; can carry well and be difficult to

locate; lower, more chirping than Sulphur-winged Parakeet, lack metallic

whining quality of Red-fronted Parrotlet. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common

and somewhat nomadic on both slopes, mainly 1000–3000m, lower locally.

(Mexico to S America.)

RED-FRONTED PARROTLET  Touit costaricensis 15–16cm. Small, rather

chunky, scarce parrot of humid foothill forest and edge. Usually seen in flight,

often fairly high overhead, in pairs or small groups. Note small size and squared

tail, voice. With good views, note yellow underwing coverts; male has diag­

nostic, big red forewing patches. Juv. has little or no red on head. SOUNDS: High

whistled calls with distinctive, semi-metallic whining quality, sriieh and clipped,

slightly lower si-si-chirh; lacks screechy quality of Barred Parakeet, not buzzy

like Sulphur-winged Parakeet. STATUS: Uncommon to scarce on Caribbean slope,

mainly 500–1500m, occasionally to 3000m; also locally on s. Pacific slope of

Talamanca Mts. (Costa Rica to w. Panama.)

BROWN-HOODED PARROT  Pyrilia haematotis 20.5–23cm. Small, rather

compact parrot of humid lowland forest and edge, plantations, and taller

second growth; not in open country. In pairs or small groups, typically seen

briefly in flight at canopy level. Flight fast and direct with quick deep wingbeats,

more hurried than slightly larger White-crowned and Blue-headed Parrots,

which have slower deep wingbeats, often fly higher. Feeds at mid–upper levels

in fruiting trees, where quiet and overlooked easily. Note voice, dark head,

bright red axillar flashes in flight; also pale spectacles in dark brown head,

variable red ear spot. Juv. has paler brown hood, duller ear spot, greener chest.

SOUNDS: Shrill, slightly metallic screeches in flight, kreéik or kreeíh’ and short series, kreiik krríik; higher,

more metallic than White-crowned Parrot. STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes, to 1600m. (Mexico to

nw. Colombia.)

WHITE-CROWNED PARROT  Pionus senilis 23–25.5cm. Medium-size, rather

compact parrot of humid forest and edge, plantations, adjacent semi-open areas

with forest patches. Often in small flocks, at times of 50 or so birds. Flies with

deep wingbeats, unlike shallow flapping of amazons. Feeds mainly in canopy, at

times perching on exposed snags. Distinctive, with overall deep blue-green plum-

age, big white crown patch, pale bill, red undertail coverts but no red in wings.

Juv. duller and greener overall, with smaller white crown patch. SOUNDS: Rau-

cous screeches in flight, rreéahk and rolled rriéah, higher and screechier than

amazons, deeper and less metallic than Brown-hooded Parrot. STATUS: Fairly

common on both slopes, locally to 1800m; sporadic visitor to Central Valley.

(Mexico to w. Panama.)

BLUE-HEADED PARROT  Pionus menstruus 23–25cm. Medium-size, rather

compact parrot of humid lowland forest and edge, plantations, adjacent semi-

open areas with forest patches. Habits much like White-crowned Parrot;

similarly flies with deep wingbeats, unlike shallow flapping of amazons and

hurried flight of Brown-hooded Parrot. Distinctive, with overall deep green

plumage, blue head and breast, dark bill, red undertail coverts but no red in

wings. Juv. duller overall, with limited blue on head. SOUNDS: Raucous shrieks

and screeches, recalling White-crowned Parrot but averaging mellower, slightly

higher, and faster-paced. STATUS: Fairly common on both slopes and spreading

north; rarely to 1200m and typically at lower elevations than White-crowned Parrot where ranges overlap.

(Costa Rica to S America.)