Meet my writing companion

SUMMARY: all writers have muses, but some of them wear feathers and will do anything for a pine nut

Orpheus, a seven year old male red fan parrot, Deroptyus a. accipitrinus. He likes to perch atop my desktop computer where he can lean down periodically to inspect my writing.

Image: GrrlScientist, 9 January 2013. All rights reserved.

This is Orpheus, one of my companion parrots. (In this picture, he's got some dried fruit or vegetables stuck on his beak.) He is sitting on his favourite perch atop my desktop computer, snacking on pine nuts except when he periodically leans down to inspect my writing before I publish it.

Orpheus is a 7 year old (adult) male red fan parrot, Deroptyus a. accipitrinus. This species' formal common name recognises the elongated ruff of feathers on the nape that they can erect into a large red-and-blue fan around their heads when feeling aggressive, excited, frightened or startled. In aviculture, these parrots are usually known as hawk-headed parrots.

Red fan parrots are roughly the size of a pionus parrot, a small amazon parrot or a large lory. They are the only species in the genus, Deroptyus. Males and females look alike, although my females have narrower blue edges on their breast feathers, making their breasts appear redder than in males. This cavity-nesting species is endemic to dense Amazonian rainforest, living near watercourses in pairs or in small family groups. Although not endangered, they are unusual, both in the wild and in aviculture.

Red fan parrots are what I refer to as "opinionated parrots", being more challenging companions than most; they are strong-willed, nervous and easily intimidated (thus may react aggressively to unfamiliar situations and people) and can be hyperactive. They're also surprising loud for their size. If not allowed a fair amount of autonomy as pets, these birds can become screamers or feather pluckers. Although some individuals can be good mimics, most will content themselves with repeating just a few key words or phrases (generally those delivered with the most passion, i. e.; curse words.) For this reason, it is advisable to be careful about the sort of language used around these birds, especially if they may live in another home in the future (and nearly all pet parrots live in multiple households during their lifetimes).

Orpheus can "talk" but he has a much larger collection of sounds -- squeaks, whistles and calls -- that he produces daily to express excitement, happiness or to warn me when he spots helicopters, raptors or corvids in the sky (his cage is in front of the windows, so he is the self-appointed sentry parrot.)

Look at those eyelashes!

Orpheus, a seven year old male red fan parrot, Deroptyus a. accipitrinus. He's got part of a grape (or is it apple?) stuck on his beak (he's such a messy eater!) I probably should use photoshop to remove that, huh?

Image: GrrlScientist, 9 January 2013. All rights reserved.