Psittinus - Blue-rumped Parrots
The Blue-rumped Parrot, Psittinus cyanurus, is native to the southern tip of Myanmar, peninsular South-western Thailand, Malaysia, Burma, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, Rhio Archipelago and Banka Island.
Its preferred habitat includes lowland forest areas (generally below 700m), open woodland, orchards and plantations, mangroves, dense scrub, and coconut groves; where it is commonly seen in flocks of up to 20 birds. Its natural diet consists largely of seeds, fruit and blossoms
It is the only member of the genus Psittinus.
There are three subspecies:
Blue-rumped Parrots - Nominate Species (P. c. cyanurus)
Distribution: Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Sumatra.
Greater Blue-rumped Parrots ( T. l. pontius)
Distribution: Siberut, Sipora, Pagi, Indonesia
Visual Identification: Larger than the nominate subspecies.
Siumat Blue-rumped Parrots ( T. l. aabbottii):
Distribution: Simelue and Siumat Islands, western coast Sumatra, Indonesia
Visual Identification: Male head mostly green except around eye and ears, black mantle smaller. Even larger than pontius
Description:
This small parrot - averaging 7 inches or 18 cm in length - is primarily green, with bright red shoulder patches, and yellowish margins on the wing coverts.
The male has a black mantle, red upper beak, and greyish-blue head and rump, with a brighter blue to the forehead and crown. The breast and abdomen are greyish-olive. The thighs and under tail-coverts greenish-yellow with bluish tips. The back is blue-black with each feather edged greenish-grey. The lower back and upper tail-coverts are deep blue. The sides of the body and the wing-coverts and bend of wing are red. The outermost lesser wing-coverts are brownish-red. The wings and greater wing-coverts are dark green. The secondaries and wing-coverts have a greenish-yellow edging. The upperside of the tail-feathers are greenish-yellow and the underside is yellow. The upper beak of the male is red and his lower beak is brown-blackish. The irises are pale yellow and the feet are grey.
This species is sexually dimorphic (which means that males and females can be visually sexed - once they have gained their adult plumage). Females look similar to the male except hens have a grey-brown head. Her ear-coverts are tinged olive-yellow. The back, lower back and upper tail-coverts are green. There is a bluish patch to the lower back. The breast and abdomen are yellowish-green. The outer under wing-coverts are green. Both the upper and lower beaks are brown-blackish, while the upper beak of the male is red.
Immatures look like females, but their head is green. Young males usually have a bluish tinge to forehead; under wing-coverts partially red. The irises are greyish-yellow.
Species Names:
Scientific: Psittinus cyanurus cyanurus ... English: Blue-rumped Parrot ... Dutch: Blauwrugdwergpapegaai ... German: Rotachselpapagei ... French: Psittacule à croupon bleu
Taxonomy:
Class: Aves ... Order: Psittaciformes ... Family: Psittacidae ... Subfamily: Psittacinae ... Genus: Scientific: Psittinus ... English: Blue-rumped Parrots ... Dutch: Dwergedelpapegaaien ... German: Rotachselpapageien ... French: Petites perroquet eclectus ... CITES II: Endangered Species
Sub-species:
Species: Scientific: Psittinus cyanurus pontius ... English: Greater Blue-rumped Parrot ... Dutch: Grote Blauwrugdwergpapegaai ... German: Großer Rotachselpapagei ... French: Psittacule de Mantawi
Description: Like Blue-rumped (cyanurus) featured above, but larger ... Length: 8 ins (20 cm), wing length 4.5 - 5.5 ins (116 - 142 mm).
Distribution: Siberut, Sipora, Pagi, Indonesia ... CITES II - Endangered Species
Related Web Resources: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 2 - click on link to view photo.)
Species: Scientific: Psittinus cyanurus abotti ... English: Siumat Blue-rumped Parrot ... Dutch: Siumat Blauwrugdwergpapegaai ... German: Siumat Rotachselpapagei ... French: Psittacule e Abott
Description: Like Blue-rumped (cyanurus), but crown uniformly blue; forehead and eye area interspersed with green; breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts yellowish-green; back, lower back and upper tail-coverts green; upper beak is reddish-brown, lower beak is blackish-brown; larger. Female as male, but with green head; outermost under wing-coverts green; upper and lower beaks are brown-blackish. ... Length: 8.5 ins (22 cm), wing length 5.5 - 6 ins (134 - 149 mm).
Distribution: Simelue and Siumat Islands, western coast Sumatra, Indonesia ... CITES II - Endangered Species
Related Web Resources: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 3 - click on link to view photo.)
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