The Jonquil parrot (Aprosmictus jonquillaceus) is a species of bird in the Psittaculidae family with two subspecies, Aprosmictus jonquillaceus jonquillaceus and Aprosmictus jonquillaceus wetterensis.[2] It is a large, long-tailed green parrot with an orange bill and a wing patch which red in males and yellow in females. It is visible when a bird is perched and in flight. The juvenile looks like a female but lacks a wing patch.[3]

Jonquil parrot
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Genus: Aprosmictus
Species:
A. jonquillaceus
Binomial name
Aprosmictus jonquillaceus
(Vieillot, 1818)

Habitat and distribution edit

  • Single birds or small flocks of 3 to 5 individuals can be found in forest, woodland, and acacia savanna on the Indonesian islands of Roti, Timor, and Wetar.[4][3]
  • Restricted range; Near Threatened[4]

Behavior edit

 

Vocalizations edit

Produces a loud, shrill screech, as well as lower-pitched "kraak-kraaak" cries, and high-pitched tinkling noises (see external links for recording).[3]

Diet edit

Wild diet is likely to be similar to that of the red-winged parrot: seeds, fruit, flowers, and insects. In mangroves, mistletoe is favoured.[5] Red-winged parrots were found to feed on the pods and seeds of various Acacia tree species.[6] So, it is likely that the Jonquil parrot feeds on them too.

Reproduction edit

Trapping continues and the primary trapping season coincides with the breeding season, so one can guess that many more birds are removed from the population than those trapped; many young might die in the nest if their parents are caught.[7]

Due to their remote habitat and near threatened status due to trapping and the exotic bird trade, not much information is known about the breeding of the Jonquil parrot in the wild.[8] But, it is assumed that the Jonquil parrots shares similar breeding habits with the Red-winged parrot,[5] which breeds from spring to early in the summer once a year.[9][10]

Breeding parrots is a common occurrence. Breeders of the Timor red-winged parrot gives more insight to the breeding process:

Parrots often have to be surgically sexed in order to visualize a bird's ovary (female) or testicle (male).[11] This is done because, in some cases, it can take up to four years for male and female parrots to be visibly distinguishable.[12] The female will lay 4 to 5 eggs per clutch.[5] After 20 to 30 days of incubation, the chicks hatch. The male feeds the female who feeds the chicks. The chicks are weaned by eight weeks old.[13] They live an average of 11–14 years[14]

References edit

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Aprosmictus jonquillaceus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22685063A93057213. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22685063A93057213.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Oiseaux.net. "Perruche jonquille - Aprosmictus jonquillaceus - Jonquil Parrot". www.oiseaux.net. Retrieved 2023-10-02.
  3. ^ a b c "Olive-shouldered Parrot - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
  4. ^ a b Trainor, Colin R. (2005). "Species richness, habitat use and conservation of birds of Alor Island, Lesser Sundas, Indonesia". Emu - Austral Ornithology. 105 (2): 127–135. doi:10.1071/mu03030. ISSN 0158-4197.
  5. ^ a b c "Olive-shouldered Parrot (Aprosmictus jonquillaceus) | Parrot Encyclopedia". www.parrots.org. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
  6. ^ Verdoorn, I. C. (1951-11-21). "South African Species of Acacia with Glandular Glutinous Pods". Bothalia. 6 (1): 153–160. doi:10.4102/abc.v6i1.1684. ISSN 2311-9284.
  7. ^ Forshaw, Joseph (2017-10-02). Vanished and Vanishing Parrots: Profiling Extinct and Endangered Species. Csiro Publishing. ISBN 978-0-643-10649-9.
  8. ^ Low, Rosemary (1997). "The Endangered Parrots of Indonesia". AFA Watchbird. 24 (3): 55–64.
  9. ^ Team Beauty of Birds (2021). "Aprosmictus: Red-winged Parrots". Beauty of Birds. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  10. ^ Harrington, Judy (2020). "Red-winged Parrot". The Australian Museum. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  11. ^ "Sex determination in birds-Bird Vet Melbourne". www.bird-vet.com. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  12. ^ lracadmin. "March 2023's Animal Of The Month – Meyer's Parrots – The Links Road Animal & Bird Clinic". Retrieved 2023-09-28.
  13. ^ Bolivar, Lee; Bolivar, Sharyn (1992). "Breeding of the Timor Red-winged Parrot". AFA Watchbird. 19 (2): 4–8.
  14. ^ Young, A. M.; Hobson, E. A.; Lackey, L. Bingaman; Wright, T. F. (2011-07-21). "Survival on the ark: life-history trends in captive parrots". Animal Conservation. 15 (1): 28–43. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2011.00477.x. ISSN 1367-9430. PMC 3289156.

External links edit

https://ebird.org/species/olspar1 For more photos and a recording of their vocalization.