Between July and August 2025, we led a very challenging but unforgettable expedition to observe specific species of parrots for 22 days in northern and central Peru with Agnes Coenen.
Agnes Coenen (The crazy Parrotlady)
Agnes Coenen is a Belgian citizen who has a strong interest in birds, especially parrots. According to her, it all started when she was very little and her uncle had an African grey Parrot that a relative who was a pastor in Central Africa had given him (it probably came from illegal trafficking).
What she remembers about the beginning of her relationship with that beautiful parrot is that when she saw it, her family warned her not to get too close because the parrot could bite her. However, like any curious child, she ignored them. In the end, the parrot did not bite her, and from that moment on, they became close friends. When her uncle passed away, she took care of the parrot, who accompanied her for more than 40 years. So, she estimates that the parrot lived for almost 70 years.
According to Agnes, parrots are incredible, beautiful, intelligent, honest, and loyal living beings.
The last country she visited was the Philippines, the 100th country she visited to observe birds and parrots. She says she has traveled to practically every country that has parrots, and the countries she has not yet visited are those that are unsafe due to war or insecurity, or because of the limited ability of guides to find specific species of birds (and parrots).
I have already seen all the species of parrots that are accessible or easier to observe in various countries, so now I need to visit more remote areas with expert guides to see them.
My current count of parrots (species and subspecies) according to Joseph Forshaw’s Parrots of the World is 452, but it is important to note that there are 758 species and subspecies of Psittacines in the world.
Parrot expedition in Peru
For her trip to Peru, Agnes requested a travel itinerary based on the following species: Amazonian Parrotlet (Nannopsittaca dachilleae), Andean Parakeet (Bolborhynchus orbygnesius), Barred Parakeet (Bolborhynchus lineola tigrinus), Black-capped Parakeet (Pyrrhura rupicola rupicola and Pyrrhura rupicola sandiae), Black-winged Parrot (Hapalopsittaca melanotis peruviana), Cobalt-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris cyanoptera gustavi), Grey-cheeked Parakeet (Brotogeris pyrrhoptera), Mitred Parakeet (Psittacara mitratus chlorogenys), Mountain Parakeet (Psilopsiagon aurifrons aurifrons and Psilopsiagon aurifrons robertsi), Red-faced Parrot (Hapalopsittaca pyrrhops), Riparian Parrotlet (Forpus crassirostris), Rose-fronted Parakeet (Pyrrhura roseifrons parvifrons and Pyrrhura roseifrons roseifrons), Spot-winged Parrotlet (Touit stictopterus) and Yellow-faced Parrotlet (Forpus xanthops).
With clear objectives and some adjustments for time and budget, the final itinerary for the expedition was Oxapampa, Iquitos, Tarapoto, Moyobamba, Rioja, Chachapoyas, Leymebamba, Balsas, Celendín, and Cajamarca, where we visited various special natural areas, including Shollet Forest, Alpahuayo Mishana National Reserve, Cordillera Escalera Regional Conservation Area, Morro de Calzada Ecosystem Conservation and Recovery Area, Alto Mayo Protection Forest, Abra Patricia Private Conservation Area, Utcubamba Valley, Marañon Dry Forest, among other natural areas and ecosystems of great importance for bird conservation.
Results
A total of 367 species were observed during the expedition, of which 14 were from the Psittaciformes family, as detailed below: Cobalt-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris cyanoptera), Red-billed Parrot (Pionus sordidus), Blue-headed Parrot (Pionus menstruus), Scaly-naped Amazon (Amazona mercenarius), Riparian Parrotlet (Forpus crassirostris), Pacific Parrotlet (Forpus coelestis), Yellow-faced Parrotlet (Forpus xanthops), Black-headed Parrot (Pionites melanocephalus), Rose-fronted Parakeet (Pyrrhura roseifrons), Maroon-tailed Parakeet (Pyrrhura melanura), Dusky-headed Parakeet (Aratinga weddellii), Cordilleran Parakeet (Psittacara frontatus), Mitred Parakeet (Psittacara mitratus), and White-eyed Parakeet (Psittacara leucophthalmus).
The search for parrots was very challenging. We were able to observe some of the species initially planned, and others remain pending for a future adventure. We hope to see you soon in Peru, Agnes.
List of birds recorded
