Help me identify my childhood parrots

[Joog]

Hi everyone,

When I was 4-5 years old, we were bequeathed 2 parrots, Dakota and Keo.

Dakota was a large, all-dark green bird with a black beak. He was very mean, and my dad would have to use thick gloves to change his water/food. Other parrot owners have suggested it was a military macaw, but the green was darker than the military macaw, and it did not have any other colored feathers besides green.

Keo was small to medium-sized with all-navy feathers and a yellowish beak. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of either one, so if you could list any parrots you know of that fit my descriptions, that would be great. Thanks!

 

[MissyMe83]

Hello. First sounds like a male eclectus. Not sure on the second.... : )

 

[FutureDVM]

Hello. First sounds like a male eclectus. Not sure on the second.... : )

A male eclectus wouldn't have a black beak though... They have the "candy corn" orange and yellow beak. My first thought was some type of amazon, but they don't really have dark green feathers. Maybe a jardine's parrot??

I'm not sure on the second one. I really can't think of a bird that fits that description...

 

[BillsBirds]

Are you sure that Keo was a parrot? My mynahs were bluish black, with yellow beaks. Did Keo have yellow face markings?

 

[Joog]

Thanks for responses, I just spoke with my dad to help describe them. I guess I remembered Dakota wrong. That, or I never looked at it close enough because it always tried to bite me. I remember the beak being dark, but it wasn't black. My dad described it as beige, but darker. I agree with that. There was also a little bit of yellow by the side of the wings. The green really wasn't as dark as I recall - he described the green color similar to that of a rice field.

My description of Keo is spot-on though, since I actually took care of him. His feathers shined under light if that helps. His size I would say was the same, maybe a little smaller, than our Congo African Grey was.

 

[FutureDVM]

Thanks for responses, I just spoke with my dad to help describe them. I guess I remembered Dakota wrong. That, or I never looked at it close enough because it always tried to bite me. I remember the beak being dark, but it wasn't black. My dad described it as beige, but darker. I agree with that. There was also a little bit of yellow by the side of the wings. The green really wasn't as dark as I recall - he described the green color similar to that of a rice field.

My description of Keo is spot-on though, since I actually took care of him. His feathers shined under light if that helps. His size I would say was the same, maybe a little smaller, than our Congo African Grey was.

Could Keo have been some type of pionus parrot? Look up the bronze winged pionus. They have a dark blue color, yellowish beak, and shiny bronze colored wings.

 

[Joog]

BillsBirds,

He was most definitely a parrot, since his beak was shaped liked any other parrot and not like a mynah. Good thinking outside the box though!

 

[BillsBirds]

Just thought I'd ask. Several times people refered to my mynahs as parrots, because they were pet birds that talked.

 

[Joog]

Thanks for responses, I just spoke with my dad to help describe them. I guess I remembered Dakota wrong. That, or I never looked at it close enough because it always tried to bite me. I remember the beak being dark, but it wasn't black. My dad described it as beige, but darker. I agree with that. There was also a little bit of yellow by the side of the wings. The green really wasn't as dark as I recall - he described the green color similar to that of a rice field.

My description of Keo is spot-on though, since I actually took care of him. His feathers shined under light if that helps. His size I would say was the same, maybe a little smaller, than our Congo African Grey was.

Could Keo have been some type of pionus parrot? Look up the bronze winged pionus. They have a dark blue color, yellowish beak, and shiny bronze colored wings.

Yes, you may be right. Keo was the same size, similar beak, and the darkest blue feathers I see look very similar. However, I don't remember Keo having different colored feathers, I just remember it being a navy color. I'm 95% sure the wings were bronze just like you mentioned, I would like to see this bird up close.

 

[Joog]

FutureDVM,

I'm 99% sure you're right about Keo, this picture looks a lot like him:

http://www.youschi.se/Events/Events_2004_1/Pionus.jpg

Except for the orange coloring, Keo looked like this from behind.

 

[Remy]

Could the second one have been a hyacinth macaw? They are big, dark blue, and have yellow skin around their faces.

 

[Remy]

Never mind, you said it was small. Those guys are huge. lol.

 

[roxynoodle]

The first sounds like a male Eclectus or an amazon. Not sure on the second one, but it could have been a Pionus.

My Yellow Crowned Amazon has both dark and horn color on his beak.

 

[ann]

I also think the first ones an amazon of some sort, good luck with your search !

 

[ringobird]

Keo MIGHT be a female indian ringneck but their beaks are red