Double-eyed Fig-parrot
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 Double-Eyed Fig-Parrot at Brisbane Forest Park
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| Cyclopsitta diophthalma (Hombron & Jacquinot, 1841) |
The Double-Eyed Fig-Parrot Cyclopsitta diophthalma, also known as the Blue-Faced Fig-Parrot, Red-Faced Fig-parrot, Dwarf Fig-Parrot, and the Two-Eyed Fig-Parrot, inhabits primarily the island of New Guinea, but is also found in isolated communities along the tropical Australian coast, east of the Great Dividing Range. With an average individual size of about 5 1/2 in. (14 cm) it is the smallest parrot in Australia.
The Double-Eyed Fig-Parrot is sexually dimorphic, with males having much brighter plumage than females. It is predominantly green with an extremely short tail, a disproportionately large head and bill, and red and blue facial markings. Its name derives from the cheek patches of some subspecies that resemble eyes.
Although assessed as of Least Concern by the IUCN, certain subspecies are under threat. Coxen’s Fig-Parrot (subspecies coxeni) is of one Australia's rarest and least known birds, having been recorded on fewer than 200 occasions since being described by Gould in 1866. It is classified as Endangered in Queensland (Nature Conservation Act 1992), New South Wales (New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995), and also nationally in Australia (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) as it has declined due, at least in part, to the clearing of lowland subtropical rainforest over its range.
[edit] Behavior
The Double-eyed Fig-Parrot generally forages for figs, berries, seeds, nectar, and the grubs of wood-boring insects. This foraging is done in pairs or in a flock of only a few individuals. It tends to fly in a quick and direct manner. It produces a short and shrill call. Unlike many other parrots which generally use existing holes in trees for nests, Double-Eyed Fig-Parrots excavate their own nest cavities, usually in a rotten tree.
Double-Eyed Fig-Parrots utter high-pitched, clipped, two or three note zzzt-zzzt or zeet-zeet calls, unlike the rolling or trilling screeches typical of lorikeets. These calls are mostly made in flight, but sometimes when perched. When engrossed in feeding, Fig-Parrots may also make a variety of softer, chattering noises.
[edit] Subspecies
There are eight described subspecies of the Double-Eyed Fig-parrot.
- Cyclopsitta diophthalma diophthalma
- Cyclopsitta diophthalma festetichi
- Cyclopsitta diophthalma aruensis
- Cyclopsitta diophthalma virago
- Cyclopsitta diophthalma inseparabilis
- Cyclopsitta diophthalma marshalli (Marshall's Fig-Parrot)
- Cyclopsitta diophthalma macleayana (Macleay's Fig-Parrot or Red-browed Fig-Parrot)
- Cyclopsitta diophthalma coxeni (Coxen's Fig-Parrot)
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Cyclopsitta diophthalma. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 06 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Queensland Government website: <http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/wildlife/native_animals/doubleeyed_figparrot_coxens/>
- Recovery Plan for the Coxen's Fig-Parrot Cyclopsitta diophthalma coxeni (Gould), New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, July 2002
- The Parrot Society UK: <http://www.theparrotsocietyuk.org/conarticle6.shtml>
