COTINGA 5 Flight behaviour and other field characteristics of the genera of Neotropical parrots Bret M. Whitney Introduction This paper has two objectives: to identify from Parrots are among the most conspicuous of all a field perspective the distinguishing visual fea­ birds in Neotropical habitats, but they are also tures and behavioural characteristics of the 120+ among the most difficult to identify and census. species of New World parrots to genus level, and This is particularly unfortunate, because few to introduce an important new conservation tool groups of Neotropical birds have been persecuted from the Library of Natural Sounds at the Cor­ as selectively and intensively as have the par­ nell Laboratory of Ornithology, Voices of the New rots (see Collar, this issue). In many seasonally World parrots, which presents typical flight and dry localities and even in some regions of perched vocalisations for almost all of the spe­ Amazonia and the Atlantic Forest, large species cies and many of the subspecies of Neotropical like macaws and Amazona parrots that were until parrots (available mid-1996). With the publica­ recently common have been completely or virtu­ tion of Voices of the New World parrots, which will ally extirpated by the relentless efforts of highly be accompanied by this and additional text, skilled trappers, who cut down nest trees (a comes the opportunity to learn to recognise these scarce and highly limiting resource) to remove birds in the field, and to confirm tentative or adults and, especially, young birds. The story is doubtful identifications, in a fraction of the time by now familiar: the birds are eventually smug­ that otherwise would be required. The develop­ gled to consumers (both domestic and ment of field identification skills across a broad international), with a horrible loss of starved, front of observers will greatly advance our col­ drugged, and injured birds along the way. Le­ lective ability to accurately census parrot gitimately but nonetheless selectively, macaws populations in many key areas of their distribu­ and larger parrots are hunted by indigenous tions. peoples in vast areas of Amazonia for meat and In spite of all their conspicuous attributes, ornamental feathers. Despite legislation and many parrots are, for a variety of reasons, par­ increased governmental action to the contrary, ticularly challenging to identify in the field. They these activities continue, albeit at somewhat are difficult to observe clearly as they fly over or lower intensity than, say, 20 years ago. Today, through the canopy, especially if lighting condi­ however, the list of endangered species among tions are not good, and often show the observer Neotropical bird families (as treated in Collar et little more than a passing, apparently feature­ a l.1) is headed both proportionately and abso­ less flock or a flapping, screaming silhouette lutely by parrots. going the other direction as fast as it can. The There is an urgent need to gather baseline majority of species are relatively quiet or silent data on the habitat requirements and poorly and very well camouflaged when perched in the understood seasonal movements of not only the crown of a leafy, green tree, where shapes and “threatened species” of parrots, but also the plumage features that are obvious in flight may many rare, little-known, and highly localised be entirely hidden from view or hard to see species and “subspecies” scattered over the against the sky. Complicating matters further, Neotropical realm. Over the past 80 years or so, those vocalisations that are given while perched a great deal of valuable information has been are often quite different from those delivered in gathered from the documentary collections and flight. Thus, the observer is faced with learning published work of investigators of Neotropical the various habits and vocalisations of this di­ parrots. In the coming decade we should increase verse group of birds two times over! Learning to research efforts in the field, as this is the only identify and census parrots requires lots of time source of data on the current status of these van­ in the field, preferably in a variety of localities, ishing species, and really all other birds. It is a and careful attention to distinguishing their question of continuous monitoring, forethought, voices. Fortunately, loud, species-specific and action. vocalisations are given frequently by most par­ 32 COTINGA 5 Flight behaviour of Neotropical parrots rots, consistently early in the morning and • appression: the usually partial closure of the around evening roosts, and when suddenly wing against the body on the down-stroke, pro­ flushed. Especially in the early stages of inves­ ducing a pause in wing beats. tigation, of course, identifications should be • undulation: the variable, roller-coaster-like, visually confirmed as often as possible. The key, up-and-down line of flight caused by momentary in these early stages, is to become familiar with appression of the wings. the genera of parrots, by sight and by sound, as • roll: the tipping of the orientation of the plane if they were your best friends. of the back with respect to the horizon without The baseline effort directed at conservation lateral movement of the body. Rolls may be of natural resources can have its greatest impact sm ooth (over the course of several wing beats), when it stems from local roots. This is easy to rapid (almost instantaneous), erratic (irregu­ say, but complicated in practice not by any short­ lar or “jerky”), shallow (less than about 30°), or age of enthusiasm but by a lack of conser­ deep (greater than about 30°). Rolling is often vation-focused education and of appropriate exaggerated when parrots are flushed, and is equipment. With regard to the narrow subject of easiest to judge when birds are flying directly identifying and assessing the status of toward or away from you. Neotropical parrots, the reality is that the over­ whelming majority of observers resident in • Flight is described as stea d y and d irect Neotropical countries who want to learn to iden­ (straight trajectory), or w eaving (regular, appre­ tify these birds in the field and who are uniquely ciable lateral movement; few species), with or able to talk to landowners and other parties without undulation. about local factors, own no or only poor-quality • Commuters are birds travelling long distance, binoculars, and no sound-recording equipment. such as to and from roosts or widely separated With this in mind, I have written the following foraging stations. When commuting, most par­ genus diagnoses for the unaided eye. rots fly somewhat higher than at other times, tend to roll less often, and may be less vocal than Flight behaviour: a ground-level approach when performing shorter flights. Vocalising in­ Parrots are great flyers and, like raptors and dividuals and flocks are more dynamic in their swifts, are more often observed in flight than perched. Unlike these other groups, however, parrots do not soar around giving the observer Flight silhouettes of some New World parrot hope of seeing something helpful for identifica­ genera (Larry McQueen) tion. Rather, they come blasting over at Relative sizes approximate inopportune moments, raising shouts of panic among the birders below as they scramble to catch a glimpse through the canopy. And then they are gone, leaving the birders either speech­ less, celebratory, or fighting over bumped heads and conflicting eye-witness accounts (fortunately, someone got the whole thing on tape — right?). Few experiences have such equal potential to make or ruin a morning of tropical birding. So, in an attempt to increase the proportion of cel­ ebrations to fights, I present below some basic clues that, if noted in the field, will at the very least allow you to argue persuasively with your friends, and perhaps come to agreement the next time psittacid screams signal an “in-coming”. In the genus accounts that follow, all described flight behaviours assume calm conditions (i.e. no strong wind). Terms I frequently use for specific flight behaviours or movements are: • wing beat(s): a complete up- and down-stroke of the wing, shallow or deep; almost no species elevate the wings above the plane of the back. 33 COTINGA 5 Flight behaviour of Neotropical parrots movements than quiet commuters, performing summary of ecological and conservation infor­ generally more rolls and interactive chases. Par­ mation for these species. rots mate for life, and travel is mostly in pairs, There is tremendous size variation among the which means that flocks tend to be even-num­ 13 species currently included in Ara. Seven spe­ bered. cies are large with long, strongly graduated, pointed tails. There are five “medium-sized” spe­ Taxonomy: an “in-life” perspective cies of macaws (severa, Chestnut-fronted; Taxonomy and number of species generally fol­ m anilata, Red-bellied; couloni, Blue-headed; low Sibley & Monroe5,6. However, I believe it is maracana, Blue-winged; and auricollis Yellow- informative from an identification and conser­ collared), and a single small species (nobilis, vation perspective to treat certain discrete Red-shouldered). Flight of all macaws, especially groups that are unambiguous in life (i.e. in the the larger species, is above the canopy, ranging field) as separate entities. I favour treating such from low to very high, with slow, steady wing “in-life groups” as genera because this highlights beats, generally without gliding until near the diversity and facilitates communication among destination. The smaller species have faster wing field workers and other scientists, and because I beats (for nobilis, the same as the large species predict that the conservative number of such of Aratinga) and tend to roll more frequently and groups that I identify will generally prove to be deeply. Macaws travel in pairs, trios (with one monophyletic.