The Parrot at Pumapungo. A couple of days ago I was walking through the Inca ruins at Pumapungo in Cuenca. In one area there’s an agricultural garden with what is believed the Inca grew for food hundreds of years ago.
As I was walking along one of the pathways through it I came eye level with a Parrot just a few feet away perched on some corn.
From those that have seen this photo the consensus seems to be that it was a small green cheeked amazon Parrot or similar which are normally just over a 1/3 kg. There are many varieties with different colors below the eyes and mandible.
January 9, 2015 at 10:47 am
Wow, that’s cool.
January 9, 2015 at 10:52 am
Paul,
I’ve been wondering about parrot species in the Andean areas and if any were seen outside of the Amazon regions. This is definately an Amazon species, but I don’t think it’s a Green Cheeked. The Green Cheeked is often called a Mexican Redhead and can be identified by its red crown. It’s hard to tell from the picture, but I don’t see a red crown. I have a really good book call Parrots and Related Birds. Let me see if I can help identify. It may be someone’s pet that has escaped rather than a native wild parrot. I’m very interested to hear if others have seen parrots in the wild around Cuenca.
BTW, I see you lived in Ft. Worth for many years. I was born there and lived in the DFW area my entire life.
January 9, 2015 at 12:31 pm
I’ve been told a flock of Parrots “like” this have been seen in the area. And maybe this one was looking for a flock to join.
Also in the past smuggled Parrots have been turned loose in Cuenca when the aviaries and zoo were full and there was no place to put them so that may explain why an amazon Parrot might be here in the Sierra.