Vasa Parrots
| Vasa Parrots | ||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||
| Coracopsis | ||||||||
| Wagler , 1832 |
The Vasa Parrots ( Coracopsis ) are a genus of the family of real parrots.
features
Vasa parrots reach a body length of 35 to 50 centimeters. Their plumage is brown-black. The under-tail or the under-tail-coverts as well as on the wings of the hand merge into gray. The tail is long and rounded at the end. The beak is strong compared to the size of the head. Like the dark circles, it changes color during the breeding season.
Distribution area and way of life
Vasa parrots are found in Madagascar, Comoros and the Seychelles. Their habitat are forests and tree savannahs, the little vasa parrot also occurs in mangroves.
They are sociable birds and move around in small groups of 10 to 15 animals during the day. Larger groups can also form to rest at night.
The two species differ slightly in their eating habits. In the large vasa parrot, seeds play a greater role than in the small vasa parrot. However, both types mainly consume fruits and berries.
Both species are cave breeders. The clutch comprises between two and five eggs which are only incubated by the female. The breeding season is unusually short for parrots of this size at 15 to 18 days.
Species and subspecies
The following types and subspecies are distinguished:
- Large Vasa Parrot / Coracopsis vasa , ( Shaw ) 1812
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Small Vasa Parrot / Coracopsis nigra , Linnaeus , 1758
- Small Vasa Parrot / Coracopsis nigra nigra ( Linnaeus , 1758), east of Madagascar, to the west the subspecies intergradates with C. n. Libs
- Bangs vasa parrot ( Coracopsis nigra libs Bangs , 1927)
- Comoros parrot / Coracopsis sibilans Milne-Edwards & Oustalet , 1885
- Seychelles Parrot / Coracopsis barklyi Newton , 1867
The Seychelles Parrot or Seychelles Vasa Parrot, formerly a subspecies of the Lesser Vasa Parrot, has increasingly been granted species status in recent years. It is then listed as either Coracopsis barklyi or Mascarinus barklyi . The Comoros Parrot or Small Comoros Vasa Parrot ( Coracopsis sibilans ) is currently recognized as an independent species.
attitude
Vasa parrots were already kept in the 19th century. In today's zoo animal husbandry, the Vasa Parrot in particular plays a larger role; there are special breeding programs for it. Large vasa parrots have already reached an age of 54 years in captivity, while individual birds of the small vasa parrot can live up to 34 years.
literature
- Joseph M. Forshaw : Parrots of the World. Princeton University Press 2010, ISBN 978-0691142852 .
- W. Grummt , Harro Strehlow (Ed.): Zoo animal keeping birds. Verlag Harri Deutsch, Frankfurt am Main 2009, ISBN 978-3-8171-1636-2 .
- Olivier Langrand : Birds of Madagascar. Yale University Press 1991, ISBN 978-0300043105 .
Single receipts
- ^ A b Joseph M. Forshaw: Parrots of the World. Princeton University Press 2010, ISBN 978-0691142852 , p. 146.
- ↑ Olivier Langrand: Birds of Madagascar. Yale University Press 1991, ISBN 978-0300043105 , pp. 209-210.
- ^ Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Psittaciformes (Version 9.020) . www.zoonomen.net. September 21, 2016.
- ↑ Seychelles Vasa Parrot on Avibase , accessed September 21, 2016
- ↑ del Hoyo, J., Collar, N. & Kirwan, GM (2016). Comoro Parrot (Coracopsis sibilans). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, DA & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (accessed from http://www.hbw.com/node/467522 on September 25, 2016)
- ↑ W. Grummt, H. Strehlow (Ed.): Zoo animal keeping birds . P. 397.
- ↑ W. Grummt, H. Strehlow (Ed.): Zoo animal keeping birds . P. 398.
