What is this parrot?! (picture)

[008kenichijouji]

I haven't posted anything in a long time, but this is driving me crazy! I tried searching every species I could think of, and I can't figure out what kind of parrot is in this picture (at least, I can't find any other images that look quite like this). Here is the picture:

Does anyone else know??

 

[Echo]

Vasa parrot ?

 

[Featheredsamurai]

Yup, it's a vasa parrot :heart:

 

[MonicaMc]

One of the weirdest parrot species out there, IMO... so unique, yet odd... they don't have shiny feathers like many parrot species and are about the size of a grey, only more slender. Males have a hemi-penis and hens go bald during mating season.

Local bird store used to have a female vasa - Nova. She became so hormonal she was finally sent to a breeder and paired with a male - I think.

 

[Kimma]

If you're ever trying to identify a parrot, you could try this website I built.

Scientifickr - psittacidae

It's basically to search flickr using scientific names.

 

[KeroRocks]

There is a VASA female at a pet store near me. Interesting bird. The head goes bald at mating time, and is bright red. The male has a visible hemi penis which is VERY weird to see on a bird.

Definately a Vasa

 

[008kenichijouji]

Thanks, guys! I was completely stumped.

If you're ever trying to identify a parrot, you could try this website I built.

Scientifickr - psittacidae

It's basically to search flickr using scientific names.

Awesome! I'll use that in the future!

 

[Birdman666]

Vasa's are actually pretty interesting.

Years ago, there was an escaped pet Vasa that was loose in my neighborhood, so I got to know the owner, and the bird's male mate fairly well. They're very quirky birds. But very fun!

That particular bird ended up hooking up with a flock of crows. The crows would come around to my feeders each day. The first day it happened I was cleaning my cages, and had the entire flock outside. Imagine my surprise when one of the "crows" started talking to me...

Anyway, the owner would hang out at my place around the time the crows came every day, and bring the bird's mate, hoping to recover her...

Sadly, this tale did not have a happy ending.

 

[Maria_Metropolis]

There is a VASA female at a pet store near me. Interesting bird. The head goes bald at mating time, and is bright red. The male has a visible hemi penis which is VERY weird to see on a bird.

Definately a Vasa

Only the females' heads go bald. I was researching them for a pet. I think they're awesome. The lady that can get one for me wants $2500 though. They're very primitive parrots, as they are part raptor, and they eat meat. They're from Madagascar.

 

[Boysmom]

There is a pair of them at the aquarium in Charleston, SC in the Madagascar section.

 

[Maria_Metropolis]

They kind of remind me of a black red tailed Cockatoo.

 

[Blueridge]

These vasa parrots are really cool. And freakin adorable if I say so myself

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=An026xcm4yo