Maximilian's Pionus

Scientific Name: Pionus maximiliana
   Subspecies:  Pionus maximiliana maximiliana
                       Pionus maximiliana melanoblepharus
                       Pionus maximiliana siy
                       Pionus maximiliana lacerus

Distribution:
   These birds are found over much of eastern South America from north Brazil to Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina. They inhabit lowland forests and open woodlands.

Description:
   The Maximilian's Pionus, though not the largest of the Pionus species, is a small to medium size stocky parrot with a wonderful personality. They are pale green with a more bronze color on the underparts. The back and wing feathers can range from dark to light olive-brown and many of the feathers are edged in various shades of blues and greys. The head feathers have grey edges giving them a scaly appearance, the forehead is almost black, and the cheeks are green edged in a dull blue. The chin and across the lower throat are a dusky blue or violet which will vary in intensity from bird to bird. The central tail feathers are green with the outer feathers being blue and they have the bright red undertail feathers distinguishable to all the pionus. The beak is a yellowish horn color getting darker close to the head, the eye is dark brown circled by an eye ring varying from white to gray, and they have gray legs.
   Juveniles have paler coloring and less blues on their throats than the adults.

Size - Weight:
   These birds are a medium sized Pionus and grow to a length of 11 /2" - 11 3/4" (29 - 30 cm).

Care and feeding:
  A roomy cage is required unless the bird is to be let out for extended periods. Many birds can spend a good deal of their time on a play pen or parrot perch.
   They eat a variety of seeds, fruits, berries, and greenstuffs. Including a formulated diet would also be beneficial.

   See About Pionus: Housing and About Pionus: Care and Feeding for more information.

Social Behaviors:
   In the wild they are generally seen in pairs or in small flocks of up to about 50 birds. These birds tame very easily and are very sociable. They are not loud like many conures and amazons. They have very steady personalities and do not tend to bite.

   See About Pionus: Social Behaviors for information on developing a well rounded pionus.

Breeding/Reproduction:
  There is no visible means of sexing these birds. Place a nest box high up in a dark area of the aviary. The female will lay 3 to 5 eggs which incubate for about 26 days. Pairs may take mealworms and greenstuffs when they have chicks in the nest. Corncob is a favorite weaning food. The young will wean in about 2 1/2 - 3 months.

  See About Pionus: Breeding/Reproduction for more information on breeding.

Potential Problems:
   The Maximilian's Pionus is a relatively healthy bird, though the Pionus parrots have been known to be more susceptible to the infection aspergillosis than other species. The main symptom is heavy, belabored breathing.

   See About Pionus: Potential Problems for information on health.

Availability:
  This bird is frequently available. They are becoming increasingly popular and are widely kept.

   The other two most frequently available pionus are the Blue-headed Pionus and White-crowned Pionus.