Dennis, Gene, et.al.,
I have never seen this flock of conures, but have been hearing about them for many years. It sounds to me, from the several incomplete descriptions I have heard, that these are either Aratinga wagleri (Wagler's conure AKA red-fronted conure), Aratinga mitrata (mitred conure), a mix of both species, or a combination including hybrids between the two. I strongly suspect that mitred conures are at least a part of this group. This species is, or was, a commonly sold pet bird. Mitred conures have much more extensive red on the face and on the legs and may have flecks of red on the chest and elsewhere.
Although I haven't gotten any calls recently, there was a long period of time several years ago when I was getting many calls from private people wanting to donate their mitred conures (or what they thought were mitred conures) which had become unwanted pets. Since we do not emphasize parrots inour collection, I always turned them down. I don't recall ever having anyone offer a Wagler's (or a Finsch's, Aratinga finschi).
It seems ironic that we, the birders of Seattle and environs, have not yet identified these birds. I have no doubt that if these were "countable", on the ABA or WA State checklist, we would have had a definitive identification long ago.
More irony... I suspect that there are non-birding bird fanciers or bird breeders or pet bird owners in the area who could quickly and accurately id these critters if they got a good look.
Dennis, this discussion is confused by the tossing about of several common names, taken from different sources. Do your photographs or observations rule out Aratinga mitrata?

Greg

Greg Toffic
Curator of Birds
Woodland Park Zoo
5500 Phinney Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 684-4836 (Desk)
(206) 233-7278 (Fax)
greg.toffic at zoo.org



>>> "Netta Smith" <nettasmith at attbi.com> 12/31/01 12:14PM >>>
I noticed in Gene Hunn's message about the Seattle CBC the mention of 7
Crimson-fronted Parakeets. I thought there was some agreement now that the
flocks of parakeets in Seattle were Red-fronted Parakeets (Aratinga wagleri)
from South America, not Crimson-fronted Parakeets (A. finschi) from Central
America. The birds in my neighborhood have been puzzling, but my last long
look at them last winter indicated to me they were Red-fronted, and I posted
same on tweeters. Several birds I photographed have red to and over the
eyes, which seems to show they can't be Crimson-fronted. There's still a
possibility that more than one species is present, I suppose.

Dennis Paulson
--
Netta Smith and Dennis Paulson
1724 NE 98 St.
Seattle, WA 98115