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Blue-winged Racquet-tailed Parrot

 (Prioniturus verticalis)

Also known as: Blue-winged Racquet-tail, Sulu Racquet-tail

Click photo to visit gallery

Blue-winged Racquet-tailed Parrots
John G. Keulemans [Public Domain] Wikimedia Commons

Did You Know?

Racquet-tailed parrots are among the least known psittacines in the world.

Academic Research

Related publications: Prioniturus verticalis

Species Profile

Genus: Prioniturus | Species: verticalis

Size:

35cm (13.6 in)

Weight:

Not recorded.

Subspecies including nominate:

one

Colour Adult:

Mainly green on back, olive/green on breast and belly. Male-forehead and forecrown pale blue with small red patch; primary feathers blue on outer webs; middle tail feathers green, racquets black tinged blue, side tail feathers green tipped black. Bill blue/grey. Female-as in male but with no red spot on head.

Colour Juvenile:

As in female but with shorter tail shafts.

Call:

Varied call sounds include harsh, rasping notes, squeaky and disyllabic notes.

More Information:

Avibase

Content Sources:

CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
Vanished and Vanishing Parrots, Forshaw, 2017.
Parrots: Status Survey and Conservation Plan 2000-2004, Snyder, McGowan, Gilardi and Grajal, 2000.
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1989.
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.

Click photo to visit gallery

Blue-winged Racquet-tailed Parrots
John G. Keulemans [Public Domain] Wikimedia Commons

Did You Know?

Racquet-tailed parrots are among the least known psittacines in the world.

Academic Research

Related publications: Prioniturus verticalis

Species Care

Captive Status:

Unknown in captivity.

Longevity:

Not recorded.

Housing:

Not recorded.

Diet:

Not recorded.

Enrichment:

Not recorded.

Nest Box Size:

Not recorded.

Clutch Size:

Not recorded.

Incubation Time:

Not recorded.

Fledging Age:

Not recorded.

Hatch Weight:

Not recorded.

Peak Weight:

Not recorded.

Weaning Weight:

Not recorded.

Click photo to visit gallery

Blue-winged Racquet-tailed Parrots
John G. Keulemans [Public Domain] Wikimedia Commons

Did You Know?

Racquet-tailed parrots are among the least known psittacines in the world.

Academic Research

Related publications: Prioniturus verticalis

Species Wild Status

World Population:

50-249

IUCN Red List Status:

Critically Endangered

CITES Listing:

Appendix II

Threat Summary:

Restricted-range species, confined to the Sulu archipelago Endemic Bird Area. Almost no forest remains on the islands of Sibutu and Sanga-sanga; species is suspected to be extinct on the latter. Conversion of lowland and mountain areas to agriculture and uncontrolled settlement by humans remains a threat. Is shot for target practice on Tawi-Tawi.

Range:

Tawi-Tawi and possibly Sibutu, Southwestern Sulu Archipelago, S Philippine Islands.

Habitat:

Occurs in lowland forest, forest edge, mangroves and dense remnant forest patches.

Wild Diet:

Feeds in upper canopy of fruiting trees.

Ecology and Behaviour:

Birds seen in singles or pairs in high flight over canopy; noisy in flight, but difficult to detect while feeding. Very active at sunrise.

Clutch and Egg Size:

Not recorded.

Breeding Season:

September-January. Nest recorded in a large broken-off palm tree.

Related Links:

Oriental Bird Club Images

Click photo to visit gallery

Blue-winged Racquet-tailed Parrots
John G. Keulemans [Public Domain] Wikimedia Commons

Did You Know?

Racquet-tailed parrots are among the least known psittacines in the world.

Academic Research

Related publications: Prioniturus verticalis

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