Meek woodpecker parrot

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Meek woodpecker parrot
Systematics
Order : Parrots (Psittaciformes)
Family : True parrots (Psittacidae)
Subfamily : Miniature Parrots (Micropsittinae)
Genre : Woodpecker Parrots ( Micropsitta )
Type : Meek woodpecker parrot
Scientific name
Micropsitta meeki
Rothschild & Hartert , 1914

The Meek woodpecker parrot ( Micropsitta meeki ), also known as Meeks woodpecker parrot oaks , is a species of parrot from the genus of the woodpecker parrots ( Micropsitta ). It occurs in two subspecies on the Admiralty Islands and the St. Matthias Islands . The art epithet honors the British bird collector Albert Stewart Meek .

features

The Meek woodpecker parrot reaches a size of 10 centimeters. In the nominate form Micropsitta meeki meeki , the plumage is mainly green. The forehead, crown, cheeks and the front ear covers are gray-brown. The neck, chest, lower abdomen and the under tail-coverts are yellow with a brownish tinge. The middle wing-covers are black with broad green borders. The top of the control springs is green. The top of the outer tail feathers is black with narrow green edges and yellow tips, the underside is gray with yellow tips. The beak is horn-colored. A gray eye ring runs around the light brown iris. The feet are flesh-colored. The sexes look the same, with the female being smaller on average. The young birds have not yet been described. The subspecies Micropsitta meeki proxima looks similar to the nominate form. However, the sides of the head are lighter and more yellowish-gray. The yellow color on the neck, chest, lower abdomen and the lower tail-coverts contrasts with greenish markings. The call is a shrill zeeee and zeeeep or a see-seet and see-sit. Occasional soft zeeet whistles can be heard.

distribution

The nominate form M. m. meeki lives on Manus , Rambutyo and Lou in the Admiralty Islands. M. m. proxima is endemic to Mussau and Emira in the St. Matthias Islands.

habitat

The Meek woodpecker parrot lives in forests, areas with high secondary vegetation and cleared areas with isolated trees. Occasionally he visits gardens on the outskirts or within the villages.

Way of life

The Meek woodpecker parrot goes foraging for food individually, in pairs or in small groups. The diet consists of lichens, mushrooms and probably insects, larvae, seeds, flowers and fruits. He prefers certain tree species that are regularly visited. The Meek woodpecker parrot probably looks for shared roosts, as the swarms observed all fly in one direction towards evening. Little is known about reproductive behavior. The breeding period is unknown. The nests are built in termite structures on trees. The nest entrance is in the lower part of the termite den. From here a nest tunnel leads up to the nesting chamber.

Existence and endangerment

The Meek woodpecker parrot is described as being quite common locally. BirdLife International classifies it in the “Least Concern” category.

literature

  • J. Del Hoyo, A. Elliot, J. Sargatal (Eds.) (1997): Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos . Lynx Edicions, ISBN 84-87334-22-9

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