The blue-headed parrot is a medium-sized bird, measuring approximately 11 inches in length and weighing around 245 g. Its body is predominantly green, with a striking blue head, neck, and upper breast. The parrot also features red undertail coverts and some yellowish feathers on its wing coverts. The upper mandible of its beak is black, with reddish areas on both sides, and it has distinct dark ear patches. Apart from the well-known nominate subspecies found across most of South America, there are two more localized subspecies. The rubrigularis subspecies is found in southern Central America and has a paler plumage, while the Chocó subspecies has an overall lighter appearance and typically displays a distinct pinkish patch on its throat. The reichenowi subspecies, found in the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil, has a paler bill and blue underparts. In all subspecies, both males and females have similar appearances, and juvenile birds have less blue on their heads, with red or pinkish feathers around their ceres. These birds undergo a molt into their adult plumage at around 8 months of age, but it may take up to two years for the full blue hood to develop.
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