Vernal Hanging Parrot
Also known as:
Green Hanging Parrot, Indian Hanging Parrot, Indian Lorikeet, Thailand Peninsula Vernal Hanging Parrot
Also known as:
Green Hanging Parrot, Indian Hanging Parrot, Indian Lorikeet, Thailand Peninsula Vernal Hanging Parrot
DID YOU KNOW?
Hanging parrots roost (rest) upside down high in the rainforest canopy.
Size:
13 cm (5 in)
Weight:
28 g (1 oz)
Subspecies including nominate:
two: L.v. vernalis, L.v. phileticus
Colour Adult:
L.v. vernalis: Male-small green parrot with blue patch on throat; red rump and uppertail coverts. Beak is soft red. Eye white. Female-as in male, but blue on throat, minimal or absent.
L.v. phileticus: Predominantly green bird with a short, square tail, a red bill, and a red rump.
Colour Juvenile:
As in adults but forehead and cheeks dull grey/green; blue on throat absent; rump dull red washed with green. Beak 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.
More Information:
Content Sources:
CITES
AviList
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
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.
Captive Status:
Limited number in captivity.
Longevity:
—
Housing:
Outdoor secure aviary, minimum length 1.5 m (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 red currants; 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:
—
Nest Box Size:
106 cm (41.3″) long, 11 cm (4.3″) internal diameter, vertical box.
Clutch Size:
3 to 4
Fledging Age:
5 weeks
Hatch Weight:
—
Peak Weight:
—
Weaning Weight:
—
World Population:
Unknown, decreasing.
IUCN Red List Status:
Least Concern
CITES Listing:
Appendix II
Threat Summary:
Not globally threatened. Very common on Andaman and Nicobar Islands and reasonably in southern Thailand. Was apparently common in Cambodia around 1930. Extremely rare in China. This species is considered to have a medium dependency on forest habitat, and tree cover is estimated to have declined by 13.4% within its range over the past 10 years. Therefore, it is tentatively suspected that this may have led to a 1-19% decline in the species’ population over the same period.
Range:
L.v. vernalis: Southwestern and northeastern India and eastern Nepal east to extreme southwestern China (southwestern Yunnan) and Indochina; Andaman Islands.
L.v. phileticus: Southern Myanmar and northern peninsular Thailand.
Habitat:
Found up to 1800 m (5904 ft). Occurs in a variety of areas such as evergreen forest, moist and dry deciduous forest, forest edge, clearings, secondary growth forest, brush, bamboo thickets, orchards and overgrown cultivated areas.
Wild Diet:
Forages on berries, fruit pulp, 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.
Related Links:
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