Horned Parakeet
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| Horned Parakeet | ||||||||||||||
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| Eunymphicus cornutus (Gmelin, 1788) |
The Horned Parakeet (Eunymphicus cornutus) is a largely green parakeet endemic to New Caledonia. It is called Horned because it has two black feathers that protrude from the head and have red tips. This parakeet has a yellowish nape with a black and red face and bluish wings and tail. It makes a nasal "kho-khoot" contact call and also makes a wide range of shrieks and chuckles.
The Horned Parakeet lives humid pine forests on New Caledonia, especially when Agathis and Araucaria pines are present. They live in pairs or small flocks and forage for seeds and nuts in the canopy. It nests both on the ground and in trees.
This bird has declined since the 1880s, but it is still found in a wide range on New Caledonia and recent population estimates believe that there are 1000-2500 birds left.
