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DESCRIPTION 11 inches (28cm). Yellowish-orange head bordered with blue, with orange eye ring. Dark green rump and neck, body mostly pale with yellow-green front, blue tint on wing feathers. Orange-brown eyes, legs dark grey. Immatures like parents.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and northwestern Argentina.
HABITAT Savannah woods and open country, in pairs or flocks (up to 30 birds). Habitat widening because of land clearing. Nests in tree hollows.
DIET Searches for food in trees and on ground. Grass seeds, hemp, oats, grain mix for large parrots, fruits, fresh buds, boiled or soaked seeds, corn, soaked white bread, live food (mealworms, white worms, 'ant-eggs'), nuts, berries, apples, hard-boiled eggs, insects.
SPECIAL NEEDS Bathing facilities and roosting boxes.
CAGE LIFE Abundant, easy to breed, tame, loud voice, can be taught a few words, becomes attached to keeper, tolerates other species only outside brooding period; defends nest even against caretaker. Lives more than 20 years. Aviary at least 6l/2 feet (2m) long, a little gnawing on wooden construction. Nest box 14 X 10 X 10 inches (35 X 25 X 25cm), entrance 3 inches (8cm). Lays 2 to 6 white eggs, incubation 26 days by both partners, care by male only after 28 days, fledging 50 days. After young leave, remove all fellow species from aviary because male will actively defend young. Two broods per season possible.
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