Vernal Hanging Parrot (Loriculus vernalis)

Wild juvenile Vernal Hanging Parrot
© Melvin Yap [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0] via Flickr

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Hanging parrots roost (rest) upside down high in the rainforest canopy.

Academic Research

Related publications: Loriculus vernalis

Species Profile

Genus: Loriculus | Species: vernalis

Size:

13cm (5 in)

Weight:

28g (1 oz)

Subspecies including nominate:

one

Colour Adult:

Male-small green parrot with blue patch on throat; red rump and uppertail coverts. Bill soft red. Eye white. Female-as in male but blue on throat minimal or absent.

Colour Juvenile:

As in adults but forehead and cheeks dull grey/green; blue on throat absent; rump dull red washed with green. Bill pale orange. Eye brown.

Call:

Squeaky and high-pitched in flight or at rest; also sharp and shrill notes. Feeding in silence with occasional soft chuckling.

Listen Now

Video Links:

Video 1 | Video 2 | Video 3

More Information:

Avibase

Content Sources:

CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
ML Media Collection Catalogue 113675, Vernal Hanging Parrot Loriculus vernalis, Macaulay, Linda, Viet Nam, Feb. 3 2000, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Site
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1977.
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.
Parrots in Aviculture, Low, 1992.
Parrots: Their Care and Breeding, Low, 1986.

Wild juvenile Vernal Hanging Parrot
© Melvin Yap [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0] via Flickr

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

Hanging parrots roost (rest) upside down high in the rainforest canopy.

Academic Research

Related publications: Loriculus vernalis

Species Care

Captive Status:

Limited number in captivity.

Longevity:

Not recorded.

Housing:

Outdoor secure aviary, minimum length 1.5m (5 ft) with enclosed shelter for 1 or 2 pairs. A planted aviary is ideal, with cleaning of the plants a necessity.

Diet:

Fruits such as: apple and pear, cut into halves; also fruits in season such as pomegranate, guava and cactus fruits; berries such as blackberries and redcurrants; small seeds such as canary, and soaked oats; spray millet; sponge cake and nectar; insects such as mealworms, maggots and ant pupae, especially for feeding young.

Enrichment:

Not recorded.

Nest Box Size:

106cm (41.3") long, 11cm (4.3") internal diameter, vertical box.

Clutch Size:

3 to 4

Incubation Time:

20 days

Fledging Age:

5 weeks

Hatch Weight:

Not recorded.

Peak Weight:

Not recorded.

Weaning Weight:

Not recorded.

Wild juvenile Vernal Hanging Parrot
© Melvin Yap [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0] via Flickr

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

Hanging parrots roost (rest) upside down high in the rainforest canopy.

Academic Research

Related publications: Loriculus vernalis

Species Wild Status

World Population:

Unknown, stable.

IUCN Red List Status:

Least Concern

CITES Listing:

Appendix II

Threat Summary:

Not globally threatened. Very common on Andaman and Nicobar Islands and reasonably so in S Thailand. Was apparently common in Cambodia around 1930. Extremely rare in China.

Range:

SW India (peninsula) and up east coast to W Bengal and NE India, Bangladesh, to S China, and Indochina to Thailand. Also Andaman Islands and Mergui Archipelago.

Habitat:

Found up to 1800m (5904 ft). Occurs in a variety of areas such as evergreen and deciduous forest, forest edge, clearings, secondary growth forest, brush, bamboo thickets, orchards and overgrown cultivated areas.

Wild Diet:

Forages on berries, figs (Ficus), flower nectar notably Erythrina, Eucalyptus, mistletoe and Salmalia malabarica; also seeds of Casuarina, Tectona grandis and bamboo. Can damage local crops of guavas (Psidium) and loquats (Eriobotrya japonica).

Ecology and Behaviour:

Not visually conspicuous, but not shy either; feeding is in canopy and very acrobatic in nature. Found in pairs, family parties or small flocks. Easily approached.

Clutch and Egg Size:

3 to 4 broadly ovate eggs, 19.0 x 16.0mm (0.7 x 0.6 in).

Breeding Season:

January-April. Nest is in hollow in rotten tree branch or stem.

Photos

View in Gallery

Did You Know?

Hanging parrots roost (rest) upside down high in the rainforest canopy.

Academic Research

Related publications: Loriculus vernalis

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