Rüppell parrot
| Rüppell parrot | ||||||||||
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Rueppell 's Parrot ( Poicephalus rueppellii ) |
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| Poicephalus rueppellii | ||||||||||
| ( Gray , 1849) |
The Riippell Parrot ( Poicephalus rueppellii ), also Rüppell Blausteißpapagei or only Blausteißpapagei called, is a parrots art from the genus of poicephalus ( Poicephalus ). The species epithet honors the German natural scientist and Africa researcher Eduard Rüppell .
description
The Rüppell parrot becomes 22-25 cm long and weighs 100-130 g. Its plumage is predominantly dark gray-brown with yellow shoulders, under wing coverts and yellow "stockings" as well as a yellow wing bend. The under-tail-coverts and the rump are blue - hence the name "blue-tipped parrot". Young birds have the blue rump, but in the males it turns gray after 2–3 years. So only young animals and females show the blue. The beak is black-gray, the iris is red-orange and the feet are dark gray.
Young birds lack the yellow spot on the shoulders.
distribution
The Rüppell parrot is found in southwestern Angola as well as in the northern and central parts of Namibia . There it lives mainly dry forest areas, where it can be found especially on trees near river banks or river beds. In addition, the birds apparently prefer euphorbia forests.
Way of life
The Rüppell parrot usually lives in small groups of up to 20 animals; in times of abundant food availability, larger flocks can come together. The flight of the birds is quick and direct, when the birds are on the run their flight is accompanied by a high-pitched piercing whistle, which varies in pitch and intensity. The diet consists of insect larvae , berries and young saplings , seeds and buds. Her favorite forage plants include various types of acacia .
voice
The voice is quite pleasant and not very loud. The birds can imitate human speech.
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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swell
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hoppe and Welcke, p. 79
literature
- Dieter Hoppe , Peter Welcke: Long-winged parrots , Ulmer Verlag, Stuttgart 2006, ISBN 3-8001-4786-6
Web links
- Poicephalus rueppellii in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2008. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2008. Accessed January 31 of 2009.
- Videos, photos and sound recordings of Poicephalus rueppellii in the Internet Bird Collection