Blue-crowned Racquet-tail
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| Blue-crowned Racquet-tail | ||||||||||||||
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| Prioniturus discurus (Vieillot, 1818) |
The Blue-headed Racquet-tail, Prioniturus discurus is a parrot found on all the larger islands of the Philippines not starting with "P" (i.e., not Palawan or Panay). It is 27cm, basically green with a blue crown, bluish undertail, whitish beak, and dark underwings with green coverts. There are three or four subspecies:
- P. d. discurus: Jolo, Mindanao, Olutanga, Basiilan, Guimara, Luzon.
- P. d. whiteheadi: Negros, Bohol, Samar, Leyte, Masbate, Cebu. Less blue on crown.
- P. d. nesophilus: Tablas, Sibuyan, Catanduanes. Still less blue. May be part of P.d. whiteheadi.
- P. d. mindorensis: Mindoro. Green forehead, hindcrown shades to violet.
It inhabits humid forests, mangroves, and cultivated areas up to 1750m. Small flocks of 5-12, but more gather at fruit trees. Eats fruit, berries, nuts and seeds. Widespread but threatened by habitat destruction and trapping.
Note: Blue-headed Racquet-tail, P. platenae, was formerly considered conspecific.
[edit] References
- Juniper & Parr (1998) Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World; ISBN 0-300-07453-0.
