I guess we all have troubles with strange sounds now and then. Last
Wednesday (7/8) I went to the playground area at the isthmus of Seward
Park in Seattle in an effort to entertain my 3 1/2 year old grandson. We
had a great time with the swings and slides, and headed for the beach and
water on the north side of the Park access. While he slopped in the
shallows, I heard this raucous screeching from overhead, and, happening to
have my binocs (do I ever step out the door without them?) I checked out
the pair of parrots at the top of the cottonwoods and firs above the
supervised swimming area. There was enough noise so that there may have
been as many as half a dozen of them, but I got clear looks at two, both
sitting pecking at each other, and in flight.
They were all green, except for their red face and white ring
around their eyes. In the past, I have heard them referred to as
Scarlet-fronted Parakeets, but have only seen them flying and screaming in
the distance. Comparing what I saw to the photo in John Dunning's "South
American Birds, A Photographic Aid to Identification" (1987), I did not
identify any "red spots on the neck or underparts". I wonder if these are
really the Mitred Parakeets which are described as "Green. Only forehead
and face red." The latter come from Peru, Bolivia and Argentina/Chile,
further south along the Andes than the former. Since I have not seen
these birds at my backyard feeder, and do not own a copy of the new
"Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World" by Juniper and Parr (Yale
University Press), I can't be absolutely sure. Any of you able to help me
be sure of my diagnosis of these introduced glorious noisemakers?
Many thanks for any assistance. Fran Wood (male)