Birds
White-capped Pionus
Pionus seniloides
Showing off pale, whitish feathers across its forehead that lend it a distinguished, aged look, a white-capped pionus moves through Andean cloud forest canopy, a lesser-known relative of the more widespread blue-headed pionus.
Overview
The white-capped pionus, Pionus seniloides, is a Least Concern parrot found across cloud forest along the Andes from Venezuela and Colombia south into Peru. Its distinctive pale forehead feathers, restricted cloud forest range, and relatively limited study compared to its pionus relatives make it one of the more understated Neotropical parrots.
A name borrowed from appearance
The whitish feathers covering the white-capped pionus’s forehead give it a look reminiscent of greying hair, a distinctive and slightly incongruous feature for a bird that is otherwise a typical stocky, short-tailed member of the pionus genus.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread across suitable Andean cloud forest habitat throughout its range.
White-capped Pionus: common questions
Why is it called the white-capped pionus?
It shows whitish feathers on the forehead and crown, a feature that gives the species a prematurely aged appearance and inspired its common name.
How is the white-capped pionus different from the blue-headed pionus?
Both belong to the same pionus genus of stocky, short-tailed parrots, but the white-capped pionus is restricted to Andean cloud forest and is less well known and studied compared to the more widespread blue-headed pionus.
What does the white-capped pionus eat?
It is a herbivore, eating fruit, seeds, nuts, and flowers foraged from forest canopy.
Where is the white-capped pionus found?
It ranges across cloud forest along the Andes from Venezuela and Colombia south into Peru.