 The Mascarene parrot was 35 cm ( 14 in ) in length with a large red bill and long , rounded tail feathers . Its legs were red , and it had naked red skin around the eyes and nostrils . It had a black facial mask and partially white tail feathers , but the colouration of the body , wings and head is unclear . Descriptions from life indicate the body and head were ash grey , and the white part of the tail had two dark central feathers . In contrast , descriptions based on stuffed specimens state that the body was brown and the head bluish but do not mention the dark central tail feathers . This may be due to the specimens having changed colour as a result of aging and exposure to light , as well as other forms of damage . Very little is known about the bird in life . 
