Brown-headed parrot
| Brown-headed parrot | ||||||||||
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Brown- headed Parrot ( Poicephalus cryptoxanthus ) |
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| Poicephalus cryptoxanthus | ||||||||||
| ( Peters , 1854) |
The brown-headed parrot ( Poicephalus cryptoxanthus ) is a bird art from the kind of poicephalus . Together with the other species of this genus, as well as the gray parrot , the lovebirds , the Rose-ringed Parakeet and Madagascar endemic Vasa Parrots this type is a typical parrot species of Afrotropical . It inhabits southeastern Africa including the eastern Transvaal , Mozambique , Zimbabwe , Malawi , Tanzania, and Kenya . Brown-headed parrots are still common in some regions.
description
Brown-headed parrots have a dark brown head and neck plumage. The ear covers are silver gray. The underside of the body and the rump, however, are green. The feathers of the wings are dark gray and either have a lighter border or brown inside flags. The under wing-coverts are yellow. The tail feathers are olive-brown, with a green edge and a green tip. The upper bill is blue-gray and the lower bill is a light horn color. The irises of the birds are dark yellow and slightly grayish, the feet are gray-black. The approximately 22 centimeters long brown-headed parrots weigh between 120 and 160 grams.
Way of life
The brown-headed parrot lives in different habitats in southeast Africa , similar to the golden-winged parrot . He prefers low-lying, dry forest areas there. In southern Africa it is often seen in areas where the vegetation is rich in baobabs. In Mozambique and Zululand , the species also inhabits areas in the immediate vicinity of cultivated land and acacia bush landscapes. Brown-headed parrots are local birds and only undertake local migrations that are dependent on the food supply. They usually live in small groups of four to twelve birds. Depending on the annual cycle, motivation and food supply, the parrots can occasionally be found individually, in pairs or in groups of up to 40 birds.
The flight of the brown-headed parrots is quick and direct. The birds look very conspicuous, especially through their unmistakable voice-feel sounds and the yellow coverts that can be seen in the sky. On the other hand, they can hardly be seen while they are eating, as they eat relatively calmly and are protected from observers by branches and foliage. The birds feed mainly on seeds, fruits, nuts, berries and nectar. Brown-headed parrots also seek out grain , corn and coconut plantations.
Brown-headed parrots and humans
Brown-headed parrots were first imported to Europe in the 19th century. In comparison to the black-headed parrots, which also belong to the genus of the long-winged parrots , they rarely find their way onto the market. As with all parrots, this species should only be kept in pairs in aviaries.
The systematic position within the genus Poicephalus
The following cladogram shows the genus Poicephalus with their respective degrees of relationship. The Niam-Niam parrot ( Poicephalus crassus ), whose species status is controversial, is missing .
| Poicephalus (genus) |
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The following subspecies are assigned to the brown-headed parrot:
- Poicephalus cryptoxanthus cryptoxanthus
- Poicephalus cryptoxanthus tanganyikae
- Poicephalus cryptoxanthus zanzibaricus
swell
Individual evidence
literature
- Dieter Hoppe , Peter Welcke: Long-winged parrots , Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-8001-4786-6
- Rosemary Low: Das Parrotienbuch , Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 1989, ISBN 3-8001-7191-0
- Rudolf K. Wagner (2007): Looking for parrots in the Kruger National Park. In: PARROTS, 9/2007
- Susanne and Werner Lantermann (1986): The parrots of Central and South America: Species, keeping a. Zucht , Verlag M. & M. Schaper, ISBN 3-7944-0149-2
Web links
- Videos, photos and sound recordings about Poicephalus cryptoxanthus in the Internet Bird Collection
- Poicephalus cryptoxanthus in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN 2013.2. Listed by: BirdLife International, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2013.