Pionus in Peru

Hello all, I’m a new member on here. I’ve always LOVED parrots and am now a new owner of a sweetheart of a Blue-headed Pionus. I am originally from California and have been living in central Peru for the last 6 months. My girlfriend and I recently rescued him/her from horrible conditions.
I wish I knew the sex and age of it. It has become extremely attached to me and not so much my girlfriend.
We were not really planning on this, and it was kind of spur of the moment because of the circumstances, so we don’t have a cage for it and it is free ranging in our home with its own room when need be with a large portion of a tree with branches and stands about 8 feet tall for perching.
He/she is dirty, has red paint on its head (not sure why), but seems in otherwise great shape with lots of personality and a good appetite.
He/she doesn’t seem to want to bathe itself in a water dish and doesn’t seem too interested in drinking water, so it may be well hydrated. I really want to get it cleaned and get the painted feathers off of its head, but not sure how to do so.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hello & welcome!
I love Pionus, one of my favourite species
Do you have access to an Avian vet? If so, I would take your new guy in to be checked, and as that paint could be toxic they may have ideas on how to safely remove it, depending on what kind of paint it is.
I'm so glad you brought this baby into your home.

Thanks for the reply! Yes, Im already in love haha. I will see if there is an avian vet here. Are they able to regrow their feathers? Not sure if they could be safely shaved or cut off and regrow?
Also, do they bathe themselves or should I shower him/her? Very dirty.

They will regrow their feathers, sometimes it takes awhile, but as long as the follicles aren't damaged they should grow back.
I mist my birds, and some like it, some hate it. I play a video from Youtube of a thunderstorm and that helps. The only worry I would have with yours is that paint. That is worrisome, if it were to be water based and run, he could ingest some. However, he may be already doing that by preening that area.
I'm hoping that someone will reply who has had experience with this.

Hi

Welcome! Wishing you the best with your blue headed Pionus, a really beautiful species.

Peru is such a fascinating place. It has been one of my dream destinations.
Have wanted to go there and see the three large Ara macaws -Scarlet, Red and green and blue and yellow together on the clay lick at Tambopata.

As of now it is too expensive. One day I hope to make it.

:red:

The paint is definitely not water based or at least I highly doubt it. It has encrusted onto the feathers it’s on, which are on the very top of its head.
Is there any way to tell the age or sex of it? I read that there isn’t, but I’m not sure.

Sexing can only be done via DNA sexing, surgical sexing, or if the bird lays an egg...


Graphic info... but might explain why your new pionus appears the way it does.

Bleaching and Painting of Parrots - City Parrots -
Wildlife traffickers bleach parrots to increase value - City Parrots -
Don't buy the blond bird - City Parrots -

The wildlife hospital I volunteer at uses a soy based paint remover to remove paint sometime found on the wildlife. I don't know the name of it, but maybe a call to a vet or wildlife rehab center would know.

A beautiful blue-headed pionus! I'm a little jealous. The pionus has captured my heart.
It sounds like a stroke of great luck that you took in this poor bird. I've never had to deal with paint on birds before so I wouldn't know where to start. Feathers do grow back, birds molt so those feathers will fall out a be replaced eventually.
Good luck with giving your new beauty a good life. I'd love to see some photos of them! ^^