Great-billed Parrot |
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Also known as: Moluccan Parrot, Island Parrot, Large-billed Parrot
Wild Great-billed Parrot
© Ross Tsai [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Flickr
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The Great-billed Parrot prefers small islands and will travel widely between them.Academic Research
Related publications: Tanygnathus megalorynchosSpecies Profile
Genus: Tanygnathus | Species: megalorynchos
Size:
41cm (16 in)
Weight:
260g (9.1 oz)
Subspecies including nominate:
eight: T.m. megalorynchos, T.m. affinis, T.m. subaffinis, T.m. hellmayri, T.m. viridipennis, T.m. sumbensis, T.m. floris, T.m. djampeae
Colour Adult:
T.m.megalorynchos: Both adults mid to large sized green parrots with pale blue edging on mantle; pale blue back and rump; black scapulars and lesser wing coverts, margined with blue and green; black middle wing coverts margined with yellow. Red bill. White eye.
T.m. affinis: Both adults have duller green on heads, with brighter green on hindneck; green scapulars; bend of wing blue.
T.m. subaffinis: Both adults as in affinis but marginal blue on mantle; green rump with blue tinge.
T.m. hellmayri: Both adults as in affinis, but blue on mantle absent; green on bend of wing.
T.m. viridipennis: Both adults as in megalorynchos, but blue on primary feathers and coverts absent.
T.m. sumbensis: Both adults as in megalorynchos, but darker blue on rump.
T.m. floris: Both adults as in sumbensis but lighter green on crown and occiput; less blue on back and wings.
T.m. djampeae: Both adults as in floris but paler blue on rump.
Colour Juvenile:
As in adults but shoulders and lesser wing-coverts green.
Call:
Harsh notes given in flight or while perching; also series of one-note squawks at regular times.
Listen NowVideo Links:
Video 1More Information:
Content Sources:
CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1989. 2010 edition
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.
Parrots in Aviculture, Low, 1992.
Psittacine Aviculture, Schubot, Clubb and Clubb, 1992.
Wild Great-billed Parrot
© Ross Tsai [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Flickr
Photos
View in GalleryDid You Know?
The Great-billed Parrot prefers small islands and will travel widely between them.Academic Research
Related publications: Tanygnathus megalorynchosSpecies Care
Captive Status:
Rarely seen in aviculture.
Longevity:
Not recorded.
Housing:
Walk-in aviary or enclosure, minimum length 4.5m (14.7 ft).
Diet:
Mix of small seeds: canary, oats, safflower; spray millet; limited sunflower seed, dry, soaked or sprouted; sprouted mung or other beans, cooked butterbeans or lentils; boiled corn; fresh green leaves such as: Swiss chard, lettuce, sowthistle, dandelion, chickweed; fresh vegetables including carrot, celery, squash or zucchini, green beans, peas in the pod; fresh fruit including apple, pear, orange, cactus fruits and bananas; complete pellet, nuts such as walnuts or hazelnuts; complete pellet.
Enrichment:
Provide overhead misters or shallow water bowls for bathing, parrot play gyms, large parrot toys and safe chewables (fir, pine, sterilized pine cones).
Nest Box Size:
16"x 16" x 24" (40.6cm x 40.6cm x 61cm) box or 12" x 12" x 36" (30.5cm x 30.5cm x 91.5cm) vertical box.
Clutch Size:
2
Incubation Time:
28 days
Fledging Age:
9 weeks
Hatch Weight:
13.5g (0.5 oz)
Peak Weight:
Not recorded.
Weaning Weight:
Not recorded.
Specialist Club:
Wild Great-billed Parrot
© Ross Tsai [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Flickr
Photos
View in GalleryDid You Know?
The Great-billed Parrot prefers small islands and will travel widely between them.Academic Research
Related publications: Tanygnathus megalorynchosSpecies Wild Status
World Population:
Unknown, decreasing.
IUCN Red List Status:
Least Concern
CITES Listing:
Appendix II
Threat Summary:
Not globally threatened. Wild population is in healthy numbers on most islands in range, but on Sumba race sumbensis is endangered and at 1700 birds. Race floris has suffered a marked decline from trapping for trade.
Range:
T.m. megalorynchos: Talaud and Sangihe Islands to small islands off western coast of Vogelkop Peninsula, Irian Jaya; introduced to S Philippines.
T.m. affinis: S Moluccas.
T.m. subaffinis: Tanimbar Islands, and Babar Island.
T.m. hellmayri: SW Timor, Semau and Roti Islands.
T.m. viridipennis: Kalaotoa and Madu Islands, south of Sulawesi.
T.m. sumbensis: Sumba, Lesser Sunda Islands.
T.m. floris: Flores, Lesser Sunda Islands.
T.m. djampeae: Tanahjampea and Kalao Islands, south of Sulawesi.
Habitat:
Found in coastal lowlands and adjacent foothills; occurs in primary and tall secondary forest, forest edges, closed woodlands and mangrove; will also visit coconut plantations. Up to 1000m (3280 ft).
Wild Diet:
Diet includes the fruit of Sonneratia alba, Canarium vulgare and casuarinas. Reported to visit corn crops.
Ecology and Behaviour:
Will congregate in groups of up to a dozen birds while feeding; call loudly while in flight. Communal roosting.
Clutch and Egg Size:
2 broadly elliptical eggs, 39.0 x 28.5mm (1.5 x 1.1 in).
Breeding Season:
August-December. Nest is cavity in tall deciduous tree.
Related Links:
Wild Great-billed Parrot
© Ross Tsai [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Flickr
Photos
View in GalleryDid You Know?
The Great-billed Parrot prefers small islands and will travel widely between them.Academic Research
Related publications: Tanygnathus megalorynchosMembers Only Resources
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