Parrot Clay Licks along the Napo River

Yellow-crowned Parrots and a Mealy Parrot scraping clay off the bank of the Napo River.

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The sight (and deafening sound) of hundreds of spectacular parrots feasting on dirt was certainly a highlight of the trip. We visited two large clay licks along the Napo River and a small muddy pool in the forest and saw nine species of parrots (Orange-winged Parrots were often seen in flight but few were near the licks). One lick was observed from the boat and the other two had large shelter/blinds so the birds would not be disturbed.

Mealy Parrots 

Mealy and Blue-headed Parrots. Dusky-headed Parakeets were also present near the river lick but stayed in nearby trees.

Orange-cheeked Parrots, Cobalt-winged Parakeets and Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlets crowd into a muddy pool while Scarlet Macaws perch overhead at this interior forest lick.