Eventually he moved to his left and, standing over the Pumas' bowl, nibbled on the flag. He continued to hang around the Argentinian bowl, but wouldn't cement it by eating a seed or nut.
After returning to the middle again, still buying time, Richie momentarily looked towards the Irish bowl - heart-in-the-mouth stuff for the Emerald Isle.
But with the game still anybody's to win, late in the second half, the cocky macaw finally chose South America - the land of his ancestors.
Dipping his head into the bowl, Richie picked himself a seed and puffed out his feathers in celebration of the Argentinian victory tomorrow.
For the last quarter-final between the Wallabies and Scotland tomorrow he was equally unsure.
But once past his initial cloudiness, Richie found himself favouring Scotland to his right.
He eventually ate from the St Andrew's Cross-adorned bowl and then, going back for more, confirmed the huge upset.
A historic win for the Scots.
Next week, whether or not his prophecies bear fruit - or nuts - our majestic medium will be sitting on his perch pondering the semifinals.
Having the sight may be a gift, but it can also be a birden.
