Cape Parakeet

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Cape Parakeet
Red-Capped-Parrot 0004 flat web.jpg

Cape Parakeet ( Purpureicephalus spurius )

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Parrots (Psittaciformes)
Family : True parrots (Psittacidae)
Tribe : Flat-tailed Parakeets (Platycercini)
Genre : Purpureicephalus
Type : Cape Parakeet
Scientific name of the  genus
Purpureicephalus
Bonaparte , 1854
Scientific name of the  species
Purpureicephalus spurius
( Kuhl , 1820)

The cap parakeet ( Purpureicephalus spurius ), also called Rotkappensittich called, is an Australian parrot that is very colorful. It is the only representative of the genus Purpureicephalus or capped parakeets . It is counted among the flat-tailed parakeets , but differs from them mainly in its behavior during courtship. Biochemical studies have shown a close relationship to the genus Banardius ring parakeets . Presumably, both the morphological peculiarities of the Cape Parakeet and its deviating behavior are an adaptation.

Appearance

Cape Parakeets reach a body length of 37 centimeters and weigh between 98 and 156 grams. The skull tapers sharply towards the front. The bluish gray beak is very narrow. The upper beak is black at the tip.

The male has a dark crimson red on the forehead, crown and neck. The cheeks are bright yellowish green in color. The shoulder feathers, the small and medium wing-coverts, the rear neck and the back including the front back are dark green. The upper tail-coverts, like the rump, are greenish yellow. The wings and the coverts are gray-black. The neck, the abdomen and the upper flank region have a purple color, the lower flank region and the thighs are red. The inner control springs are dark green at the top and gradually turn into a blue-black. The outer control springs are blue and have a wide white border. The underside of the tail is dark gray.

Females are similar to males, but are generally slightly duller in color and have a green line over their eyes. Young birds not yet sexually mature differ significantly in their plumage from the adult birds. They are missing the red cap. The parting, like the neck, the back and the wings, is matt dark green. Most noticeable is the difference in the chest and stomach. These are vermilion brown in juvenile capped parakeets.

Flight image

The flight of the Cape Parakeets is slightly undulating and relatively fast. The undulating movement occurs because the parakeets glide for a short time after a few quick flaps of their wings. In contrast to both the ringed parakeet and the flat- tailed parakeet , the flight of the capped parakeet is noiseless and - apart from the slightly wavy flight pattern - relatively straightforward. The flight lacks two characteristic features that are characteristic of these two genera: Near the ground they do not show any arc-shaped descent and they do not glide upwards just before landing. During the flight they let out a harsh krarr-räk ... krarr-räk .

distribution and habitat

Cape Parakeets are a species of Australian parrot. Their range is limited to the extreme southwest of Australia. They inhabit a large number of tree-covered habitats here. They occur in dense eucalyptus forests as well as on agricultural areas that are interspersed with individual trees. Cape Parakeets also use tree-lined watercourses and avenue streets. They are also found in city parks, as well as on orchards. Their population density is greatest in humid and sub-humid regions, in contrast, they are a relatively rare species in the more dry regions of their range.

behavior

Sexually mature capped parakeets live mostly in pairs. On the other hand, not yet sexually mature birds form flocks that often contain twenty or more individuals. Occasionally they are also associated with ring parakeets and Stanley's parakeets.

Flocks of capped parakeets that are not yet sexually mature show nomadic behavior. Adult, mated Cape Parakeets, on the other hand, are mostly true to their location.

food

Cape Parakeets eat seeds, fruits, berries, nuts, flowers and leaf buds. They also eat apples and pears and can therefore do some damage to orchards. The seeds of the eucalyptus trees play a special role in their diet. The beak with its narrow, elongated upper beak enables Cape Parakeets in particular to pick the seeds from the large, bowl-shaped capsules of the Eucalyptus calophylla . Cape Parakeets have also been observed how they carefully pull individual leaves through the halves of their beak and thereby strip off leaf fleas .

Reproduction

As far as we know today, cap parakeets are monogamous birds whose pairing does not end until one of the partners dies. The courtship behavior of the capped parakeets is striking. Males initially pursue the female in flight. The males approach a seated female with erect crown feathers, while the wings hang slightly and the rump plumage is bristled. When moving towards the female, the male constantly lets out sharp chattering noises.

Cape Parakeets are cave-breeders that prefer to breed in eucalyptus trees. The clutch consists of five to six eggs. In some cases, however, it consists of only three or even seven eggs. The female breeds alone. The breeding season is 23 days. The male feeds the brooding female. The female leaves the brood cavity to feed. The nestlings leave the nest cavity at around 37 days and then stay in the vicinity of the adult birds for three to four weeks.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Forshaw, p. 400
  2. ^ Forshaw, p. 401
  3. ^ Forshaw, p. 401
  4. ^ Forshaw, p. 401
  5. ^ Forshaw, p. 401
  6. ^ Forshaw, p. 404
  7. ^ Forshaw, p. 402
  8. ^ Forshaw, p. 404
  9. ^ Forshaw, p. 405
  10. ^ Forshaw, p. 406

literature

Web links

Commons : Purpureicephalus spurius  - Collection of images, videos and audio files