The Bronze-winged Pionus parrot was first described by Fraser in 1840.
A sub species, Pionus chalcopterus cyacens was described by Meyer de Schauensee in 1944, but present day ornithologists now tend to view cyacens as identical to the nominate Pionus chalcopterus.
Often described as being timid, Bronze-winged parrots do not deserve this description. Wild BW's are imperious and regal in their manner and, as a flock, dominate all other parrots present in their geographical range. BW's typically are quiet and reserved until they have checked out every feature of their surroundings and discover it to be free of predators and other threats to their security. Captive Bronze-winged's exhibit similar caution when moved to a new environment, however, their behavior becomes much freer and open once they have spent one or two weeks studying their new home. Consequently, when adding a Bronze-winged parrot to your home, allow the bird plenty of time to investigate its new surroundings. Stressed birds will continue to be withdrawn until they are satisfied that they will be safe.
The range of these birds stretches from northwest Venezuela (and occasionally in some sections of Panama) along both the eastern and central Cordillas of the Andes mountains (see note below) into Ecuador (primarily western Andean slope)and into northwest Peru.
Once thought to be high-altitude birds, numerous sightings now confirm that this parrot is comfortable in lowland environments (0-900m), tropical and sub-tropical montane forests and cloud forests (900m-1650m), and higher elevation forests (1700m-2800m). Although earlier authors describe this parrot as being especially sensitive to humidity, recent research suggests that these birds flourish in a wide variety of climactic conditions.
Unlike other Neotropical parrots, Bronze-winged parrots (indeed ALL PIonus parrots), seem to thrive in forests that have been fragmented by human activities leading ornithologist Robert Ridgley to dub these as perhaps the most adaptable of all parrots. Bronze-winged Pionus parrots are heavily reliant on their flock - flocks range from small groups (<10 birds) to large flocks (>60 birds).
As is the case with Pionus flocks of all species, there does not appear to be a dominance-based hierarchy in BW flocks. Flocks use sentry birds (perched higher than the balance of the flock) to keep watch for predators while the flock forages for food and perches through the midafternoon. Individual birds regularly assume sentry duty so that no bird is forced to "work" for long periods of time. The birds roost in a seperate and well-hidden location and fly out each morning in a group to their feeding sites. After a four hour period of foraging, the birds roost quietly until mid-afternoon when they again fly out as a group to another feeding location which they abandon at dusk when they return to their roost for the night.
Although individual pairs of BW's tend to breed once or twice a year (at 6 month intervals), there does not seem to be a set breeding "season" that the entire species follows. Active BW nests have been observed in every month of the year. Captive BW's, as a rule, do not follow a set season either, although individual pairs may have a schedule that they follow. Chicks thend to adopt the same seasons used by their parents.
As the time for breeding approaches, bonded birds that plan to breed willingly seperate from the flock and set up nests, usually in the hollowed-out tops of standing, rotting palm trunks at altitudes of 10m or higher and are generally noticeably higher than the surrounding forest providing the birds with excellent security from predators. Clutches consist of 4-5 eggs. Residents of Ecuador's Mindo Valley (where there are two large flocks of BW's) report that chicks are typically fed a mash of chewed corn and insect grubs.
Weaned chicks are pushed out of the nest and learn to fly rather quickly. The parents remain with the chicks until the urge to rejoin the flock becomes overpowering. Young birds join the flock as well, but often break away in small groups, an act that renders them particularly vulnerable to predatory birds.
Bronze-winged parrots are extremely agile and speedy fliers and squawk noisily during flight. Flying flocks are easily identified in the field.
Although often accused of raiding corn and other plantation crops, BW's prefer to eat a wide variety of seeds, flowers, tree fruits (Inga sp., for example), andleaf shoots, as well as a variety of insect grubs, and insects. Research on BW diet is presently being conducted by the Pionus Parrot Research Foundation.
Captive Bronze-winged parrots are ready to breed at two years of age, although better success is obtained from birds 3 years and up. Some pairs take as long as five years to bond and establish their first nest, while others readily go to nest as soon as they are physically able. Hens brood for 26-28 days (the variation is due to some hen's habit of not brooding a clutch util the second egg is laid). Expect males to be highly protective and even aggressive when the pair begins preparing a nest. A minority of males who do not have an opportunity to breed may also develop this "hormonal" activity, though its frequency and intensity both decline as the bird matures. Our experience at High Spirits Aviary suggests that chicks who have spent time being flocked with adults have less trouble with these infrequently-occurring "hormonal" problems.
Some BW's are difficult to wean, particularly those raised without regular contact with adult birds and those who are denied the ability to fly freely. It is not uncommon for BW chicks to revert to unweaned status when stressed, such as when they are forced to rapidly adjust to a new environment.
Presently, the supply of captive BW's exceeds the demand in southern California and Florida and as a result prices have dropped to $400-$500 per bird in those areas. In other areas, prices remain at mid 1990's levels of $600-$700. This author suggests that DNA fingerprinting be done on any bird that a breeders is considering pairing up for breeding. We also urge all breeders to record their birds and chicks in the Pionus Breeder Association studbook.
NOTE: A study report, Rapid Biodiversity Assessments & Conservation Evaluations In The Colombian Andes, published in 1999 (Gonzalez, C. E. (1999) ~ Botanica. Pp 14-17 in Donegan, T. M. & Salaman, P. G. W. (eds.) (1999) Colombian EBA Project Report reports no sightings of once-common Bronze-winged Pionus (P. chalcopterus) on the eastern slopes of the Eastern Cordilla (just where the eastern cordilla splits from the central cordilla - see the maps included in the report).
Sources
Fjeldså, Jon. and Neils Krabbe. 1990. The Birds of the High Andes. Svendborg, Denmark. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen and Apollo.
Forshaw, Joseph M. and William T. Cooper. 1977. Parrots of the World. Neptune, N.J. T.F.H. Publications. (Note: This is a revised edition of the 1973 first edition published by Lansdowne Press of Melbourne, Australia.)
Gonzalez, C. E. 1999. Rapid Biodiversity Assessments & Conservation Evaluations In The Colombian Andes. Botanica. Pp 14-17 in Donegan, T. M. & Salaman, P. G. W. (eds.) (1999) Colombian EBA Project Report URL http://www.proaxis.com/~salaman/eba99.html
Hilty, S. L. and W. L. Brown. 1986. A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton. Princeton University Press.
Hilty, S. L. 2003. The Birds of Venezuela. Princeton. Princeton University Press.
Juniper, Tony and Mike Parr. 1998. Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World. New Haven and London. Yale University Press.
Meyer de Schauensee, R. and W. H. Phelps. 1978. A Guide to the Birds of Venezuela. Princeton, N.J. Princeton University Press.
Ridgely, Robert S. 1981. The current distribution and status of mainland Neotropical parrots. In R. F. Pasquier, ed. Conservation of New World Parrots. Cambridge, UK. International Council for Bird Preservation, Technical Publications
Ridgely, Robert S. and Paul J. Greenfield. 2001. The Birds of Ecuador: Field Guide (Volume 2). Ithaca. Cornell University Press.
Ridgely, Robert S. and Paul J. Greenfield. 2001. The Birds of Ecuador: Status, Distribution, and Taxonomy (Volume 1). Ithaca. Cornell University Press.
Ridgely, Robert S. and Gwynne, J. A. 1989. A Guide to the Birds of Panama. Princeton, N. J. Princeton University Press.
Shade, Russell W. 2002. The Practical Pionus (Volume 1). In press.
Stoodley, John & Pat Stoodley.1984. Pionus Parrots. Lovedean, Portsmouth, England. Bezel Publications.
Stotz, D. F., J. W. Fitzpatrick, T. A. Parker, III, and D. K. Moskovitz. 1996. Neotropical Birds: Ecology and Conservation. Chicago. University of Chicago Press.
Sweeney, Roger G. 2001. Pionus Parrots: A Complete Guide. Port Perry, Ontario, Canada. Silvio Mattacchione & Co.
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