Finschs Pygmy Parrot
[order] PSITTACIFORMES | [family] Psittacidae | [latin] Micropsitta finschii | [authority] Ramsay, 1881 | [UK] Finschs Pygmy Parrot | [FR] Micropsitte de Finsch | [DE] Salomonen-Spechtpapagei | [ES] Microloro de Finsch | [NL] Finsch Spechtpapegaai | [copyright picture] Alan Tate
Subspecies
Monotypic species
Genus
The pygmy parrots of the subfamily Micropsittinae all belong to the genus Micropsitta. The six species are endemic to New Guinea and nearby islands. Pygmy parrots are the smallest members of the parrot family. Pygmy parrots are tiny birds: fast-moving, mostly green with bright highlights. A pygmy parrot spends a good deal of time climbing through foliage, using its large feet and beak, and stiffened tail feathers.
Physical charateristics
M.f. finschii: male- mainly green in colour; blue at base of lower mandible; orange/red at centre of abdomen; undertail coverts yellow; green/blue centre tail feathers, tipped in the centre black; lateral tail feathers blue/black. Bill dark grey. Cere and eye ring pink. Eye orange/pink. Female- rose/pink at base of lower mandible; orange/red on abdomen absent; blue/grey cere and eye ring. M.f. aolae: both adults darker green on upperparts; crown has blue patch; orange/red on abdomen absent in males. M.f. tristami: both adults as in finschii, but blue on crown absent and orange/red on abdomen absent in males. M.f. nanina: both adults as in aolae, but with less blue on crown. Smaller in size. M.f. viridifrons: both adults as in aolae, but with more blue on crown; blue wash on sides of head; orange/red on abdomen in some males.
Listen to the sound of Finschs Pygmy Parrot
[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/PSITTACIFORMES/Psittacidae/sounds/Finschs Pygmy Parrot.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
recorded by Niels Krabbe
| wingspan min.: | 8 | cm | wingspan max.: | 9 | cm |
| size min.: | 8 | cm | size max.: | 9 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 0 | days | incubation max.: | 0 | days |
| fledging min.: | 0 | days | fledging max.: | 0 | days |
| broods: | 1 | eggs min.: | 1 | ||
| eggs max.: | 2 |
Range
Australasia : Solomon Islands. This species is restricted to New Ireland and Bougainville in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
Habitat
Found up to 900m (2952 ft) in primary forest, overgrown gardens, casuarinas, secondary growth, open scrubby areas and coconut plantations.
Reproduction
Nests in low arboreal or ground level termite hills. Clutch size in captivity 1-2 eggs.
Feeding habits
Feeds on lichen, fungi and casuarina seeds found on clear branches, seems also to digest insects. May follow slow moving mixed species flocks.
Video Finschs Pygmy Parrot
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThCbguGJlrA
copyright: Josep del Hoyo
Conservation
Although this species may have a restricted range, it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size has not been quantified, but it is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Migration
Resident throughout range
Distribution map
