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DESCRIPTION 5V2 inches (14cm). Overall black with purple-blue sheen on shoulders and tail, and a 'ski-mask' hood of bluish-green with eye and beak area showing through black. Rump and underside orange, lesser wing coverts blue-green. Eyes brown, beak and legs black. Female has the hood effect on head, but other colouring duller. Immatures achieve adult plumage after about a year.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION East Brazil.
HABITAT Forests, high in the crowns of trees, leaving only to seek food, in small groups.
DIET Variety of fruit berries, currants, raisins, grapes, cut pear, apple, dates, figs, bananas, halved oranges - as well as rusk crumbs, ant pupae, small mealworms, grated carrots, chopped boiled egg and fatless red meat. For a treat, bread soaked in milk and honey.
SPECIAL NEEDS Keep recently imported birds at constant 77°F (25°C), gradually decreasing to 68°F (20°C) after acclimatization. Hose down daily and provide with room-temperature bath water. Allow to breed only in habitat without small exotic birds because they may steal young birds from the nests.
CAGE LIFE Tame and tolerant birds for cage or aviary. If kept in cage, cover bottom, but not with sand; supply shell grit separately. In aviary, like to hide and chase each other. Prefer to live in small groups, so keep a few pairs together. Allow to fly in room with cage, preferably towards evening. Pair builds nest together, as high as possible. Lay 2 to 4 pinkish-red eggs with darker spots, incubation 13 to 14 days, fledging 14 to 21 days.
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