tags: Perija parakeet, Pyrrhura caeruleiceps, tags: birds, parrots, ornithology, zoology, Image of the Day (more images below the fold) The critically endangered Perija Parakeet, Pyrrhura caeruleiceps, was photographed in the wild for the first time by Adriana Tovar and Luis Eduardo Urueña on the same expedition where they photographed the recurve-billed bushbird, thanks to Loro Parque Fundacion. The Perija parakeet population is estimated to be between 30 to 50 individual birds due to habitat destruction (deforestation and burning to create agricultural areas). ProAves researchers took these photographs in early June 2007. As you can plainly see, this beautiful parrot has a very distinctive blue nape and white breast, and is threatened by habitat disturbance and loss, and potentially by illegal bird traders. "As more and more remote areas are being settled, the Perija parakeet reminds us how important it is to conserve as much natural habitat as we can," said Paul Salaman of the American Bird Conservancy. "Who knows what wonderful biodiversity is being destroyed before it has had a chance to be discovered?" Eye to eye with the camera, a rare Perija parrot, from Colombia, South America. A rare Perija parrot chews on a leaf.
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Looking at the middle picture I wonder who is studying whom?
A spectacular bird that, like its dowdy relatives, we need to protect.
All the Pyrrhura parrots are gorgeous, and some of them are, of course, among the more popular pet conures. I have always been fascinated with the Pionites parrots, none of which seem to be at all common in captivity, though sometimes I am treated to pics of Barraband's parrots eating clay at Manu along with blue-headed Pionus. Anyway, habitat preservation is the way to go in order to keep these birds around to appreciate.