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Rusty-faced Parrot

Hapalopsittaca amazonina

iNaturalist eBird Wikipedia

A colorful specialist of the high Andes, the Rusty-faced Parrot is a social and vocal bird that thrives in the misty cloud forests of Colombia and Venezuela. Its distinctive orange-red mask makes it a prized sight for wildlife observers and camera trappers alike.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

23 cm (9 inches) in length; weighing approximately 97–115 g (3.4–4.1 oz)

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Colors

Mainly green plumage; rusty-red to orange forehead and face; dark red shoulder patches; blue flight feathers; pale yellow eyes

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Key Features

Rusty-orange mask across the face and forehead
Deep red 'shoulder' patch on the wing coverts
Short, square green tail
Pale yellowish beak and eye-ring

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-10 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Specializes in fruits, seeds, and flowers of high-altitude trees, with a strong preference for mistletoe berries and Ericaceae shrubs.

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Habitat High-altitude cloud forests, elfin forests, and the shrubby transitions to paramo grasslands.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Rusty-faced Parrot Live?

Native to the South American continent, the Rusty-faced Parrot is a specialist of the Northern Andean highlands. Its core range is concentrated in the Eastern and Central Andes of Colombia and the mountain ranges of western Venezuela, with occasional recorded sightings in northern Ecuador. These birds are strictly montane, occupying a narrow elevational belt where the moisture-rich clouds provide the specific forest conditions they require to thrive.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

3 Countries

145K km² Range

Near Threatened Conservation

CO Colombia

Marginal

VE Venezuela

Marginal

EC Ecuador

Marginal

Elevation range

0 m1,000 m2,000 m4,000 m

1,500 m – 3,400 m

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

Rusty-faced Parrots are social birds, typically moving through the high-altitude canopy in noisy flocks of 5 to 15 individuals. They are highly active and acrobatic foragers, often seen hanging upside down to reach fruit or blossoms. While they are very vocal in flight—emitting a series of harsh, rhythmic calls—they often fall remarkably silent once they begin feeding, making them difficult to detect without a camera.

Within their social groups, these parrots exhibit strong pair bonds and frequently engage in allopreening. They are quite sensitive to habitat disturbance and are rarely seen in open, deforested areas, preferring the safety of the dense cloud forest canopy. During the breeding season, they become more territorial and are usually seen only in pairs or small family units rather than large flocks.

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Camera Tips

To capture high-quality footage of the Rusty-faced Parrot, camera placement is critical. Because these birds are canopy-dwellers, aim to mount your camera at least 3 to 5 meters high. Focus the lens on specific 'magnet' trees—those bearing mistletoe or small, fleshy fruits—which are their primary food sources. If you are on a sloped property, placing the camera on the uphill side of a tree can give you an eye-level view into the lower canopy of trees further down the slope.

Providing a water source is one of the most effective ways to bring them into frame. A elevated birdbath or a solar-powered fountain that creates the sound of splashing water can lure them down from the high canopy to drink or bathe. Place the water feature in a small, sunlit clearing where the birds feel safe from predators but are still close to cover. The sound of moving water is especially effective in the quiet, damp environment of the cloud forest.

Adjust your camera settings for the challenging light of the Andes. High-altitude environments are often shrouded in mist or heavy cloud cover, so use a camera with a high-quality sensor that handles low light well. Set your device to a fast trigger speed (0.2 seconds or less) to catch their quick movements between branches, and utilize the 'burst' photo mode. For video, 15 to 20-second clips are ideal, as these parrots often pause to inspect a fruit before moving on. Early morning is the prime window; ensure your camera is active by sunrise to catch the flock's first foraging flight of the day.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Rusty-faced Parrot.

Indigo-winged Parrot

Smaller and rarer, it features indigo-blue wing patches and yellow ear-patches that the Rusty-faced Parrot lacks.

Red-faced Parrot

Has much brighter, more extensive red on the face and lacks the bronze-orange tones of the Rusty-faced Parrot.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Rusty-faced Parrot are most active in the early morning hours, from sunrise until about 10:00 AM, when they move between roosting sites and feeding grounds. A second peak of activity occurs in the late afternoon before they return to their nightly roosts.

If your property is at a high altitude in the Andes, the best way to attract them is by preserving native fruit-bearing shrubs and mistletoe. An elevated water source with a fountain or dripper is also a powerful attractant for this species.

Their diet is primarily composed of small fruits, seeds, and flower nectar. They are especially fond of mistletoe (Loranthaceae) and berries from the Melastome family, which are common in their high-mountain habitat.

No, they are generally shy forest specialists. They are rarely found in suburban environments unless the area is immediately adjacent to primary cloud forest or contains significant corridors of native high-altitude vegetation.

Look for the copper or rusty-orange color concentrated on the face and forehead. Unlike the similar Indigo-winged Parrot, the Rusty-faced Parrot lacks yellow ear-tufts and has a distinct dark red patch on its shoulders.

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