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DESCRIPTION 5 inches (13cm). Black neck, shoulders, back and tail, accented by brilliant sky blue on breast, belly (with black in centre) and wing coverts; yellowish-green head; purple-edged wings; and red or yellow-red rump. Eyes brown, beak and legs black.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION South America, east of the Andes and south to Bolivia and southern Brazil.
HABITAT Forests and woodland, up to about 4,921 feet (1,500m) elevation.
DIET Fruit, insects.
SPECIAL NEEDS Cover bottom of cage with absorbent paper towels or layers of newspaper to soak up watery dropping caused by their sweet, juicy diet. Clean daily to avoid spread of disease.
CAGE LIFE Large, well-planted aviary or cage at least 591/4 X 31 ¥2 X 23V2 inches (150 X 80 X 60cm), with washing facilities. Breeding results sporadic in captivity. Prefers to breed as high as possible in variety of nest boxes containing coconut fibres, dead and live grass, leaves, moss, pieces of bark, wool and other materials. Likes to hide in corners on ground, may build nest free in thick shrub. Lays 2 to 3 eggs, incubation 13 to 14 days.
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