Of all the blunt-tailed parrots, none is brought to Europe in greater
numbers than the Brazilian MAITAKKA (_Pionus menstruus_). This bird is
of middle size, ten and a half inches long and twenty inches across;
the tail is three inches long, and the wing six inches in length from
the shoulder to the tip. The plumage on the head, neck, throat, and
upper part of the breast, is ultramarine, through which the black ground
colour is visible: the neck feathers are of a copperish green, edged
with blue. The back, lower part of belly, breast, and wings are copper
green, the feathers on the back being edged with a darker shade; those
upon the breast are shaded with light blue. The upper wing-covers are
of a yellowish olive green, the under covers the colour of verdigris;
the quill-feathers are green, bordered with black, the wing-feathers
blood-red, yellow at the tip, and the shafts blue. The two middle
tail-feathers are green, the tip and outer web are blue, and near the
root of a light blood-red. The beak is horn grey at the tip and paler at
the base, with a rose-coloured spot on both sides beneath the nostrils;
the legs are of a greyish slate colour, the eye-rings bluish grey, and
the eyes greyish brown. The female resembles the male, but is somewhat
paler. In the young, grey is generally the prevailing hue; in old birds
blue predominates.
According to the testimony of travellers, particularly the Prince von
Wied, Schomburghk, and Burmeister, the Maitakka inhabits all the country
near the coast in Brazil and Guiana, where these birds are met with in
great numbers. They live in pairs in the dry season, and assemble in
large flocks during the rainy part of the year, flying with loud cries
from tree to tree, and settling upon those most heavily laden with fruit,
to which they often do great damage, returning in the evening to their
usual resting-places. Their movements depend upon the time when the
different fruits are ripe, and to enjoy these they fly about the country
in various directions, during the rainy season approaching nearer to the
plantations on the coast and open country, but in the hotter part of
the year keeping more immediately in the neighbourhood of the principal
forests.
The flocks of these birds are very noisy; but when pairing they only
utter their call-note, which is a shrill, harsh cry. They breed during
the dry season, and their preparations for sitting do not differ from
those of other parrots. The Maitakka is hunted zealously throughout the
whole of Brazil, partly in order to drive it from the plantations, and
partly for the sake of its flesh. It is often tamed, and though not so
teachable as other parrots, soon becomes accustomed to captivity, and
can be taught to utter disjointed words. Great numbers are brought to
the coast, and eagerly purchased by sailors, for though very numerous
in Europe, these birds always command a high price. With care they can
endure confinement for many years.