Parrots in Arizona? It's true ...

The thick-billed parrot is one of only two parrot species whose natural range once included the United States.

Most people think parrots live only in tropical climates, but the endangered thick-billed parrot prefers higher elevations.

They have adapted quite nicely to the northern-type conifer forests of central Mexico. Until the early 20th century, its range once included southern areas of Arizona and New Mexico south to Venezuela in South America. Along with the extinct Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis), the thick-billed parrot is one of only two parrot species whose natural range once included the United States. The parrots died out of Arizona due to pine forests being cleared out for the mining industry. [LINK: Read On...]

Wow, that's sad, but very interesting. I had never heard of them before. Then I thought perhaps they were an Amazon variant, but it seems from their scientific name (Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha), they are a totally separate species. I did some Googling, and also learned that they are a migratory species. Didn't realize there were any migratory parrots! While it seems problematic that they will be able to make a comeback in Arizona because of habitat loss and predatory issues, hopefully they will at least be able to conserve the wild population in Mexico. Thanks for an interesting read, Karen!

I thought Amazon too at first but also was thinking they resembled a mini Macaw.

This link has pictures that more accurately show the black beak. The other picture showed a more horn colored beak.

LINK: San Diego Zoo: Thick-billed Parrot

The underlined sentence in their description caught my attention.

Like other parrot species, thick-billed parrots are intelligent, curious, and social birds, living together in flocks all year. Records from the past tell us of sightings of flocks numbering in the thousands; however, current flock sizes range from 12 to 1,000 birds. Within the flock there is a particular "pecking order" and rules each parrot must follow. Thick-billed parrots are quite noisy: their calls to each other in flight sound like children laughing. They will also alert other members of the flock if predators are near.

Fascinating, some great pictures on that link. They are beautiful birds, aren't they? Also interesting that the chicks stay in the nest for two to three months before fledging.