Thick-billed Parrot by Ken _Gilliland

DAZ|Studio • Animals • posted on Apr 19, 2020

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Description

The thick-billed parrot is the last remaining indigenous to the continental United States. This species is endangered with 2,000 - 2,800 mature individuals left. Once found in the high elevation pine forests of southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Nomadic in response to pine crop success, thus behaving irruptively in the manner of crossbills (Loxia), and for the same reason. Major invasions of southernmost USA formerly occurred, and as with Loxia smaller numbers may have stayed to breed or have always been present. This pattern may apply in many parts of the Sierra Madre Occidental itself, with perhaps only a few core areas permanently holding the species. The main cause of decline is loss of high-elevation old-growth forests through logging. For any species dependent on food that is patchy in both space and time, the interposition of even more space between productive areas is an energetic catastrophe leading to spatio-temporal bottlenecks in food supply; it also removes nest-sites. Forest destruction is continuing with the settlement of even remote areas by cattle-ranchers and drug-growers, and with logging operations still active. It feeds primarily on seeds of various pines (Pinus arizonica, Pinus ayacahuite, and Pinus teocote). In Arizona, some fed on the seeds of the Chihuahua pine (Pinus leiophylla) before switching to acorns, and elsewhere Prunus fruits and legume seeds have been used as supplements. Occasionally they will feed on tree bark. Rendered in Iray without any postwork. Models include DinoRaul's Jefferey Pine and assorted other trees and my Songbird ReMix Parrots of the World (updated-out soon) along with my prop tree branch.