Edwards's fig parrot (''Psittaculirostris edwardsii''), also known as the scarlet-cheeked fig parrot, is a species of

parrot Parrots (Psittaciformes), also known as psittacines (), are birds with a strong curved beak, upright stance, and clawed feet. They are classified in four families that contain roughly 410 species in 101 genus (biology), genera, found mostly in ...

in the family

Psittaculidae Psittaculidae is a family of parrots, commonly known as Old World parrots, though this term is a misnomer, as not all its members occur in the Old World and Psittacinae also occurs in the Old World. It consists of six subfamilies: Psittricha ...

found in humid lowland forests in north-eastern

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; , fossilized , also known as Papua or historically ) is the List of islands by area, world's second-largest island, with an area of . Located in Melanesia in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is ...

. The adult male is predominantly green with red breast and cheeks, yellow ear coverts, and yellowish crown.

Taxonomy

Edwards's fig parrot was first described by French zoologist Émile Oustalet in 1885, and named in honour of French naturalist

Alphonse Milne-Edwards Alphonse Milne-Edwards (Paris, 13 October 1835 – Paris, 21 April 1900) was a French mammalogist, ornithologist, and carcinologist. He was English in origin, the son of Henri Milne-Edwards and grandson of Bryan Edwards, a Jamaican planter who ...

. It is one of three species in the genus '' Psittaculirostris''.

Description

A medium-sized parrot with a stocky build and short tail, it measures in length. The adult male has bright green wings, back, and tail. The feathers of the cheeks and ear coverts are long and narrow, giving the face a ruffed appearance. The cheek feathers are red and the ear coverts golden-yellow. The throat and breast are red with a dark blue-black band on the upper breast. The bill is a dark grey-black and the eye (iris) red. The feet are dark grey. The adult female is similar, but has a wider blue-black band on the otherwise green-yellow breast. Immature birds resemble the female. Calls include a high-pitched ''screett'' or ''zseet'', and a short sharp ''ks'', described as "coins dropping on concrete".

Distribution and habitat

Edwards's fig parrot is restricted to northeastern New Guinea, where it is found from Yos Sudarso Bay and

Vanimo Vanimo is the capital of Sandaun Province (West Sepik) in north-westernmost Papua New Guinea and of Vanimo-Green River District. It is located on a peninsula close to the Indonesia–Papua New Guinea border, border with Indonesia, nearest to Jaya ...

east to the Huon Gulf. Common within its range, it is found in lowland forests and cleared areas.

Behaviour

Birds are found in ones or twos, although groups of up to 35 individuals may gather at fruit trees. Their predominantly green plumage makes them hard to spot against foliage. They have been recorded feeding with double-eyed fig parrots, fruit pigeons ('' Ptilinopus''), honeyeaters, and starlings. They consume fruit including figs. Nesting takes place in small hollows high up in large trees, although little is known about this aspect of their behaviour.

References

External links

World Parrot Trust
Parrot Encyclopedia - Species Profiles {{Taxonbar, from=Q647537 Edwards's fig parrot Birds of New Guinea Edwards's fig parrot Taxonomy articles created by Polbot