Psittrichas fulgidus

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Cladus: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Cladus: Telluraves
Cladus: Australaves
Ordo: Psittaciformes

Familia: Psittaculidae
Genus: Psittrichas
Species: P. fulgidus
Name

Psittrichas fulgidus (Lesson, 1830)
Synonyms

Banksianus fulgidus (protonym)

Type locality

New Guinea

References

Lesson, R.P. 1830–1831. Traité d'ornithologie, ou, Tableau méthodique des ordres, sous-ordres, familles, tribus, genres, sous-genres et races d'oiseaux : ouvrage entièrement neuf, formant le catalogue le plus complet des espèces réunies dans les collections publiques de la France. F. G. Levrault, Paris. Vol. 1: pp. i–xxxii, 1–659. BHL Reference page. : p. 181. BHL.
IUCN: Psittrichas fulgidus (Vulnerable)

Vernacular names
català: Lloro vulturí
Deutsch: Borstenkopf
English: Pesquet's Parrot
español: Loro de pesquet
suomi: Kaljunaamakaija
français: Psittrichas de Pesquet
magyar: Sörtefejű papagáj
日本語: アラゲインコ
Nederlands: Borstelkoppapegaai
русский: Орлиный попугай

Pesquet's parrot (Psittrichas fulgidus), also known as the Dracula parrot[2] or as the vulturine parrot (leading to easy confusion with Pyrilia vulturina from Brazil), is a member of the Old World parrot family Psittaculidae. It is the only member of the genus Psittrichas. It is endemic to hill and montane rainforests in New Guinea.
Description

Pesquet's parrot is a large parrot with a total length of approximately 46 cm (18 in) and a weight of 680–800 g (24–28 oz). Its plumage is black, with greyish scaling to the chest, and a red belly, uppertail coverts and wing-panels. The adult male has a red spot behind the eye, which is not seen in the adult female.[3] Compared to most other parrots it appears unusually small-headed, in part due to the bare black facial skin and the relatively long, hooked bill, an adaptation for its fruit-based diet. This rather vulture-like profile is the reason behind its alternative common name.[4]
Behaviour

Pesquet's parrot is a highly specialised frugivore, feeding almost exclusively on a few species of figs. Flowers and nectar have also been reported. In parts of its range, it is seasonally nomadic in response to the availability of fruits. The bare part of the head is presumably an adaptation to avoid feather-matting from sticky fruits.

Little is known about its breeding habits in the wild. Typically it lays two eggs in a nest in a large, hollow tree.

It is typically seen in pairs or groups up to 20 individuals. In flight, it alternates between rapid flapping and short glides.[5]
Status

Its feathers are highly prized. This, combined with high prices in aviculture, has resulted in overhunting. Habitat loss also presents an ongoing problem. For these reasons, it is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1] Pesquet's parrot is listed on Appendix II of CITES.

References

BirdLife International (2017). "Psittrichas fulgidus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22685025A118772050. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22685025A118772050.en.
Crew, Becky (2019). "The Dracula parrot is intimidating". Australian Geographic.
Forshaw, Joseph M. (2006). Parrots of the World: An Identification Guide. Illustrated by Frank Knight. Princeton University Press. Plate 23. ISBN 0-691-09251-6.
Handbook of the birds of the world: orders Pterocliformes, Columbiformes, Psittaciformes and Cuculiformes. Barcelona: Lynx edicions. 1997. ISBN 978-84-87334-22-1.
Juniper, Tony; Parr, Michael James (1998). Parrots: a guide to the parrots of the world. Robertsbridge: Pica press. ISBN 978-1-873403-40-2.