Red-crowned Parrot

Amazona viridigenalis

eBird provides this description for the Red-crowned Parrot:  Fairly large, bright green parrot endemic to humid tropical lowlands and foothills in northeast Mexico. Uncommon. Found in forests, edges, semiopen areas with scattered tall trees, and forest patches. Most often seen flying over early and late in the day, often fairly high and usually in pairs or loose groups made up of pairs. Best field mark is the pale, ivory-yellow bill that contrasts with the red forecrown. Like other similar parrots, in flight shows a red patch on the back of the wing. Introduced to California, Puerto Rico, Florida, and Hawaii.

I saw my first Red-crowned Parrot just before sunset on the late afternoon of Monday, January 4, 2021 in McAllen, Texas.  I had read on eBird that a large number of Red-crowned Parrots had been observed at the corner of 2nd Ave and Houston St.  I arrived at that location about 5 p.m. and found there was a small linear park, with a number of palm trees that might make for a likely parrot roost.  I set up on my stool and waited.  After about 25 or 30 minutes, I saw a small flock of parrots approach, then fly a circle around the area a leave.  About this time I noticed a large Gray Hawk in one of the palm trees and figured the parrots had seen the hawk and flew away.  About 20 minutes later the hawk flew off.  Soon after, a large flock of about 90 Red-crowned Parrots approached and landed high up in a tree, allowing me to get a few photographs in spite of the light.  The flock stayed only about 5 minutes and flew off. When I got home and carefully examined my photographs, I discovered there was one Yellow-headed Parrot mixed in with this group of Red-crowned Parrots. 

Two evenings later (January 6, 2021) I went to 10th and Indiana in Weslaco about 5 p.m.  One of the birders that was staying at Alamo B & B reported that he had seen a large flock of Red-crowned Parrots at that location on the previous day.  Another birder showed up and we waited together.  While we waited, a couple of residents of the neighborhood confirmed that the parrots did indeed roost there.  Shortly before sunset a very large flock of parrots (much larger than the night before) flew in, circled and landed in a tree.  Again I was able to get some photographs of the Red-crowned Parrots before I lost the light.  It was a noisy, magnificent sight that evening!

When I got home and looked at my photographs, I discovered that one of the parrots I saw the second evening was in fact a Yellow-headed Parrot, which was mixed in the with Red-crowned Parrots.  For details of the trip that included my two parrot sightings, look here.  Below are some of the photos I took on those two evenings. 

A Short Video I Made of the Red-crowned Parrots in Weslaco, Texas on January 6, 2021.