Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)

OTHER NAMES: Red-and-Yellow Macaw, Red-and-blue Macaw
Latin Etymology: Ara (onomatapoeiac name from Tupi for macaws) macao (macaw)

 

Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Ara macao cyanopterus
Weight:1kg  /  Length: 81-96cm  /  Wingspan: 107-122cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Scarlet macaws are an instantly recognisable species and an icon among tropical birds of the most long-lived of all bird species with an expected lifespan of 40-50 years but recorded as living to 90. They are one of the largest of all parrots and being loud, social and brightly coloured are easily one of the most conspicuous species in areas they occur. They are recorded as being kept as pets as early as the 11th century, and today are still a popular species in aviculture.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Ara
SUBSPECIES: A. m. macao, A. m. cyanopterus
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Guacamayo Escarlata ("Scarlet Macaw")
A highly local species found near the Nicaragian Border, at Tarcoles and Corcovado National Park.
Found in - COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Crimson-fronted Parakeet (Psittacara finschi)

OTHER NAMES: Finsch's Parakeet, Finsch's Conure
Latin Etymology: Psittacara ("parrot head") finschi (for explorer Friedrich Finsch)

 

Crimson-fronted Parakeet (Psittacara finschi) at Location, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 135-175g  /  Length: 28cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A parrot species with a limited range from Nicaragua to Panama, that favours less dense forests and semi open landscapes, though has also adapted to urban life in cities such as San Jose. They are a social bird which may gather in flocks of up to 30 to feed. Their primary food sources include fruits, flowers and grains.

Related Species: 

Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Psittacara
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic  

- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Perico Frentirrojo ("Red-fronted Parakeet")

A widespread resdent of lowlands.
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at San Jose

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Red-lored Amazon (Amazona autumnalis)

OTHER NAMES: Red-lored Parrot 
Latin Etymology: Amazona ("Amazon") autumnalis ("autumnal")

  

Red-lored Amazon (Amazona autumnalis) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Amazona autumnalis salvini
Weight: 310-480g  /  Length: 32-35cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A widespread parrot found from just South of the US Mexican border to Venezuela and Ecuador. It was experienced exploitation for the pet trade, but conversely is able to adapt to human habited areas fairly well. They may be one of the longest lived of all bird species with claims of individuals having reached 80 years. 

Related Species:
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Amazona
SUBSPECIES: A. a. autumnalis, A. a. salvini

 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - loro de cachetes amarillos ("yellow cheeked parrot")
Found throughout
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

White-fronted Amazon (Amazona albifrons)

OTHER NAMES: White-fronted Parrot, Spectacled Amazon Parrot
Latin Etymology: Amazona ("Amazon") albifrons ("white-forehead")

 

Two White-fronted Amazon (Amazona albifrons) at San Jose, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Amazona albifrons nana
Weight: 190-250g/kg  /  Length: 25cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The smallest species of amazon parrot, it is also the only amazon species to be strongly sexually dimorphic enough for easy differentiation in the field with the males having red shoulders that the females lack. As with many parrot species they are long lived and have been recorded living 40 years in the wild and over 50 in captivity. Native to Central America, there are some feral populations in places like Puerto Rico and Texas.

Related Species: 
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Amazona
SUBSPECIES: A. a. albifrons, A. a. nana, A. a . saltuensis

 
- Sighting Locations - 

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Loro frente Blanca ("white fronted parrot")
Found in the North West of the Country
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles and San Jose  

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Orange-chinned Parakeet (Brotogeris jugularis)

OTHER NAMES: Tovi Parakeet
Latin Etymology: Brotogeris ("with human voice") jugularis ("throat")

Orange-chinned Parakeet (Brotogeris jugularis) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Brotogeris jugularis jugularis
Weight: 53-65g  /  Length: 18-19cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A small parrot of Central and South America, they are skilled mimics able to replicate human voices well, hence the latin name. Primarily frugivorous, they are sometimes regarded as a pest as they damage commercially grown fruit, though generally has a vegetarian diet plus insects. As with many parrots, they supplement their diet with the ingestion of mineral rich soil to ensure their nutritional needs are met. 
 

Related Species: 

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Brotogeris

SUBSPECIES: B. j. jugularis, B. j. exsul

 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA 
Found in Northern and Western Lowlands
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Orange-fronted Parakeet (Eupsittula canicularis)

OTHER NAMES: Orange-fronted Conure, Half-moon Conure, Petz's Conure 
Latin Etymology: Eupsittula ("good little parrot") canicularis ("of the star Sirius")

Flock of Orange-fronted Parakeet (Eupsittula canicularis) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Eupsittula canicularis canicularis

Weight: 68-80g  /  Length: 23-25cm  /  Wingspan: 25cm
NO UK STATUS / Red List: Vulnerable Evaluated 

A bird with an unusual nesting strategy - they dig a cavity in the nest of a particular species of arboreal termite, then leave this nest for a short period to allow the termites time to seal off this hole. At that point, the excavated chamber is used for nesting. They feed on fruit, flowers and seeds and outside the breeding season, form into flocks. It is another species popular in the pet trade, where it is kown as the half-moon conure.
 
Related Species: 
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Eupsittula
SUBSPECIES: E. c. clarae, E. c. eburnirostrum, E. c. canicularis
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Peruci Atikero ("Collector Parakeet")
A fairy common resident of the North West
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Yellow-naped Amazon (Amazona auropalliata)

OTHER NAMES: Yellow-naped Parrot
Latin Etymology: Amazona ("Amazon") auropalliata ("gold cloaked")

Yellow-naped Amazon (Amazona auropalliata) at Tarcoles, Costa Rica - November 2025

Featured Subspecies: Amazona auropalliata auropalliata
Weight: 500g  /  Length: 36cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

A species of parrot which has recently been elavated to Critically Endangered level due to the twin pressures of deforestation and poaching for the pet-trade, with it being a popular species in aviculture. As mimics they develop extensive repartes of vocalisations and studies have shown they have developed dialects with geographically boundaries in ways with similarities to humans. Unfortunately, this vocal skill is also a contributing factor to their popularity in the pet trade as they mimic human speech.
 
Related Species: 

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Amazona

SUBSPECIES: A. a. auropalliata, A. a. parvipes, A. a. caribaea
 
- Sighting Locations -

COSTA RICA - Spanish - Loro de Nuca Amarilla ("Yellow-naped Parrot")
Widespread in North West
- COSTA RICA 2025 TRIP: Seen at Tarcoles
 
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Red-masked Parakeet (Psittacara erythrogenys)

OTHER NAMES: Cherry-headed Conure, Red-headed Conure
Latin Etymology: Psittacara ("parrot head") erythrogenys ("red cheeked") 

Two Red-masked Parakeet (Psittacara erythrogenys) at San Francisco, California September 2022

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 200g  /  Length: 33cm  /  Wingspan: 56cm
NO UK STATUS /IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

A parrot whose native range is Ecuador and Peru but due to escapees has now established into populations in several pockets of the United States. There is no definite take on the source of this population, but they have succeeded in creating a small and expanding population of around 300 individuals in San Francisco.

Related Species:

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Psittacara

SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES 

Small isolated feral populations found in California, Florida, Puerto Rico and Hawai'i
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at San Francisco

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.

Alexandrine Parakeet (Psittacula eupatria)

OTHER NAMES: Alexandrine Parrot
Latin Etymology: Psittacula ("diminutive of parrot") eupatria ("noble daughter")

Adult Female Alexandrine Parakeet (subspecies P. e. siamensis) at Ta Prohm, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Psittacula eupatria siamensis
Weight: 200-300g  /  Length: 52-62cm  /  Wingspan: 19-21.5cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

A large parakeet species - the Alexandrine Parakeet is a distinctly sexually dimorphic species - the male has a similar appearance to the Rose-ringed Parakeet, while the female lacks the black markings, giving it a much more totally green appearance.  Found in India and South-East Asia, it has a mixed colony above the ruins of Ta Prohm in Cambodia. It is named after Alexander the Great who initially introduced parakeets to European countries.

Related Species: 

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Psittacula

SUBSPECIES: P. e. eupatria, P. e. nipalensis, P. e. avensis, P. e. magnirostris, P. e. siamensis

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - សេកសោម ("Parrot")

A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: There is a colony above Ta Prohm

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri)

OTHER NAMES: Moustached Parakeet
Latin Etymology: Psittacula ("diminutive of parrot") alexandri (named after Alexander the Great)

Adult Red-breasted Parakeet (subspecies P. a. fasciata) at Ta Prohm, Cambodia - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: Psittacula alexandri fasciata
Weight: 150g  /  Length: 33-38cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Near Threatened

The Red-breasted parakeet is an unusual parakeet with an uncharacteristically short tail for the genus.  It has a wide distribution across much of South East Asia into Eastern India, but is considered to be somewhat threatened.  Many of the island populations are threatened, often by the wild bird trade but it does also occur as a feral species in some cities.

Related Species:

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Psittacula

SUBSPECIES: P. a. abbotti, P. a. alexandri, P. a. cala, P. a. dammermani, P. a. fascinata, P. a. kangeanensis, P. a. major, P. a. perionca 

 - Sighting Locations -

CAMBODIA - Khmer - សេកសក ("Parrot")
A locally common resident.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: There is a colony above Ta Prohm

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Loriculus galgulus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Loriculus (diminutive of "lorius") galgulus (small bird mentioned by Pliny)

Adult Male Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Loriculus galgulus) at Ang Mo Kio, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 28g  /  Length: 13cm  /  Wingspan: ?
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern 

The Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot is a tiny bird, and one of the few native parrot species in Singapore.  The hanging parrots have a unique ability amongst all birds in that they are capable of sleeping while hanging upside down, and while I didn't personally witness this behaviour, they did seem very acrobatic in the way they clambered through the trees to search for food.

Related Species:
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Loriculus
Subspecies: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A fairly common resident

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: A fairly regular sighting in locations with trees

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)

OTHER NAMES: Quaker Parrot

Latin Etymology: Myiopsitta ("mouse parrot") monachus ("monk" ie. "hooded")

  Adult Monk Parakeet (unknown subspecies) at Madrid, Spain - June 2015

Featured Subspecies: Unknown - introduced population

Weight: 90-139g  /  Length: 28-30cm  /  Wingspan: 48-53cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Monk Parakeet is a second species of parrot to establish itself in the UK, however, it has not established itself to anywhere near the degree of the Rose-ringed Parakeet.  It is found in a small number of locations around the London area with the one particular colony I'm aware of being at Mudchute farm.  To my knowledge, they haven't spread much.  They are however, soon to be subject to a removal program on the grounds of potential damage to infrastructure, native species and crops so if you wish to see them best to go looking soon.  In Spain however, they are locally abundant - in Madrid they are one of the most common birds seen on a day to day basis.

Related Species:
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Genus: Myiopsitta
Subspecies: M. m. cotorra, M. m. monachus, M. m. calita, M. m. luchsi

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A very small but self sustaining feral population (50 birds)

 - A few birds seen at Muchute Farm in May 2012.

SPAIN - Spanish - Cotorra Argentina ("Silvery Parrot") / Cotorra monje ("Monk Parrot") / Cotorrita Verdigrís ("Verdigris Parakeet")

Locally abundant resident.

 - MADRID 2015 TRIP: Seen daily in park areas of Madrid.
 - MADRID 2016 TRIP: Seen over El Pardo.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

OTHER NAMES: Rose-ringed Parakeet
Latin Etymology: Psittacula ("diminutive of parrot") krameri (after Wilhelm Heinrich Kramer)

Adult Rose-ringed Parakeet (subspecies P. k. borealis) on Regent's Park, London - October 2009

Featured Subspecies: Psittacula krameri borealis
Weight: 94-180g  /  Length: 40cm  /  Wingspan: 42-48cm

NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Britain's only fully established Parrot species - these parakeet established themselves at some point in the last 50 years and have been increasing ever since. Widespread within London (and apparently other places) they are however still restricted in range for now. In central London Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens seems to be a hot-spot - you can hear them shrieking from the trees a lot of the time just to the west of the Serpentine.  As with in Britain, in Spain the Rose-Ringed Parakeet is abundant in some Spanish cities - Seville in particular, though a few were seen in Madrid, although the Monk Parakeet was more prevalent in the latter.

Related Species:

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittacidae

Genus: Psittacula
Subspecies: P. k. krameri, P. k. parvirostris, P. k. borealis, P. k. manillensis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Common to Locally abundant Breeding Resident (8600 pairs)

 - Locally common in South East England including Regent's Park and Kensington Gardens.

SPAIN - Spanish - Cotorra de Kramer

Common in some cities.

 - SEVILLE 2011 TRIP: Common around Seville    

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.