Bronze Winged Pionus/ Pionus chalcopterus chalcopterus

DESCRIPTION: Violet-blue; head and nape bronze-brown, feathers broadly edged dark violet-grey; chin white; throat dull pink; back, rump and shoulder feathers dark bronze-green with blue edging; breast and abdomen dark green broadly edged with dark violet-blue; under tail-coverts red; wing-coverts bronze-brown; primary-coverts and primaries purple-blue; tail dark blue, outer feathers with red base; bill yellowish horn-colour; skin to periophthalmic ring dull to dark pink; iris brown; feet flesh-coloured.
Immatures with greenish head and back, breast and abdomen feathers with dark green edging.

Sexing Undeterminable by appearance

Origin Andes of Colombia (except Nariño) and furthest northwest Venezuela.

Trainability The Bronze Winged Pionus is known for its good-natured personality.

Length 29 cm (11.5 ins) (wing 190 - 205 mm or 7.5 - 8.1 ins)

Weight 210 g

Average Lifespan 35 Years

Loudness The Bronze Winged Pionus has a voice that is quite and not very loud.

Common Names Bronze Winged Pionus

Talking Ability Are capable of speaking a few words and phrases.

Notes The Bronze Wing Pionus is called a "Living Rainbow" by some aviculturists, and it is perhaps the most beautiful of all the different Pionus species. They also tend to be the shyest of the the Pionus family.

The Bronze Wing Pionus is not as popular in the pet trade as the Blue Head or the Maximillian, but its popularity is growing steadily, and they are becoming increasingly available in the pet market. The Bronze Winged Pionus is known for its good-natured personality. Though they are not avid chewers like some parrots, they should be given plenty of chew toys. They are much quieter than other parrots, but they may become quite loud from time to time, and some may also learn to screech. Like other Pionus they may be rather shy, but they will become tame with regular handling. Like other Pionus species, the Bronze Wing will often make a wheezing sound when they are frightened. This may be quite disconcerting to those who have not spent much time with a Pionus.

Bronze Wing's beautiful colors increase as they mature. Often described as "muddy," babies lack the striking coloration of the adults. A mature Bronze Winged Pionus has violet blue feathers that are etched with dark grey. Its wings are flecked with bronze. They have muted pink feathers on their throats, and they have white chins. Throughout their plumage varying shades of green, blue, chestnut, and purple are seen. Like other Pionus species, the underside of their tail is red. In bright natural light their plumage appears iridescent and will often give the appearance of changing as they move. They have yellowish colored beaks and flesh colored feet.

Mutations