I got a good look at one of these noisy neighbors of mine the other day
grooming itself in a low tree (as opposed to squawking and flying high
over my head). I do not have a parrot book or much experience IDing
parakeets, but I did find the Online Book of Parrots on the web. A
picture of a mitred conure can be found at:

http://www.ub.tu-clausthal.de/PAhtml/aratinidae/psitt_mitrata.html

The bird shown has more red than I noticed on the Seward Park bird - I
only saw red on the forehead. The description notes, however, that bird
pictured is Psittacara (separated out of Aratinga) mitrata mitrata and
that "In P. m. alticola only the forehead is red. The green color is
darker." P. m. alticola is found in "Central Peru around Cuzco...up to
3,400m."

The slightly differently colored wing edge shown in the picture also
looks like what I saw on the Seward park bird. The wing edge was the only
departure from uniform green that I noticed other than the red forehead.
(I was mostly looking from the back and side. I am willing to believe
that the underparts are lighter as shown in the picture.)

The Online book has no picture of any of the 4 listed subspecies of P.
wagleri, but indicates that they have "Some red feathers spotted over
body and "socks" ." Two of the subspecies may have a red band across the
throat.

I think the description of P. mitrata alticola "Chapman's mitred conure"
best matches the bird I saw.

Having wondered about their identity for some time and having received
different answers from different people, I am glad that Fran's posting
inspired me to try looking on the web. Thanks. Deborah, for your
information on importing. I found some more information at
on mitred conures and importing at:

http://www.hear.org/AlienSpeciesInHawaii/waringreports/parrot.htm


Good Conuring!

Paul Talbert
paul at muller.fhcrc.org