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Vernal Hanging Parrot - BirdForum Opus

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Photo by the late Laurence Poh
Khao Yai National Park, December 2003
Loriculus vernalis

Identification

A tiny, green parrot.

  • Red bill
  • Large red rump patch
  • Short tail
  • Male with a blue throat and breast

In flight

  • Rapid flight, resembling a small Barbet

Distribution

South-east Asia. South-west, South and East India, East Nepal, Myanmar, South-west China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Andamans and Nicobars (doubtful).

Taxonomy

Some authorities consider Vernal Hanging Parrot a monotypic species, others recognize both vernalis and phileticus[2]; birds of southern India formerly regarded as subspecies rubropygialis, but differences seems to be individual variations.

Forms a superspecies with Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot Loriculus beryllinus.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized[1].

Habitat

Evergreen forest, forest edge, plantations and orchards. Locally common in India and Thailand, rare in China.

Behaviour

Very active and acrobatic birds, usually gregarious, but sometimes hard to spot in the canopy where they like to feed.

Breeding

Breeding from January to April. Nest in a natural tree hole. Lays 2-4 eggs.

Diet

Feeds on soft pulp of fruits and berries. Likes figs, but also flower nectar, mistletoe and seeds. May damage local crops of loquats and guavas.

Resident but local food-related movement occurs.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2022. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2022. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Gill, F, D Donsker, and P Rasmussen (Eds). 2023. IOC World Bird List (v 13.1)_red. Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.13.1. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/
  3. Avibase

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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