Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot |
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Also known as: Blue-crowned Pygmy Parrot, Little Pygmy Parrot
Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot
© Mehd Halaouate
Photos
View in GalleryDid You Know?
The Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot feeds while gripping upside down on the sides of tree trunks, tail braced as a prop. They pause while feeding, turning their heads right around like an owl, possibly to check for predators.Academic Research
Related publications: Micropsitta pusioSpecies Profile
Genus: Micropsitta | Species: pusio
Size:
8.4cm (3.2 in)
Weight:
10-15g (0.35-0.5 oz)
Subspecies including nominate:
four: M.p. pusio, M.p. beccarii, M.p. harterti, M.p. stresemanni
Colour Adult:
M.p. pusio: Both adults forehead and sides of head buff/brown, paler in female; centre of crown and occiput dark blue, less noticeable in female; underwing coverts yellow/brown; undertail coverts yellow; centre tail feathers dark blue, the feathers on the side blue/black. Bill grey. Eye brown.
M.p. beccarii: Both adults in general darker in colour; forehead and sides of head darker brown.
M.p. harterti: Both adults less yellow on underparts; blue suffusion on throat; head markings duller.
M.p. stresemanni: Both adults as in harteri, but more yellow underparts; slightly larger in size.
Colour Juvenile:
M.p. pusio: As in adults but crown and occiput green; brown on sides of head duller. Bill pale yellow tipped with grey/brown.
M.p. beccarii: As in adults.
M.p. harterti: As in adults.
M.p. stresemanni: As in adults.
Call:
While in flight a continuous ssii…ssii or high-pitched tseet-tseet. Alarm call a repetitious note szeeei…szeeei. Silent while feeding, with occasional contact calls to others.
Listen NowVideo Links:
Video 1More Information:
Content Sources:
CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
xeno-canto Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot, van Balen, Bas XC140896
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1977. 2010 edition
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.
Lexicon of Parrots, Thomas Arndt.
Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot
© Mehd Halaouate
Photos
View in GalleryDid You Know?
The Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot feeds while gripping upside down on the sides of tree trunks, tail braced as a prop. They pause while feeding, turning their heads right around like an owl, possibly to check for predators.Academic Research
Related publications: Micropsitta pusioSpecies Care
Captive Status:
Not found in captivity.
Longevity:
Not recorded.
Housing:
Not recorded.
Diet:
Not recorded.
Enrichment:
Not recorded.
Nest Box Size:
Not recorded.
Clutch Size:
3
Incubation Time:
Not recorded.
Fledging Age:
Not recorded.
Hatch Weight:
Not recorded.
Peak Weight:
Not recorded.
Weaning Weight:
Not recorded.
Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot
© Mehd Halaouate
Photos
View in GalleryDid You Know?
The Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot feeds while gripping upside down on the sides of tree trunks, tail braced as a prop. They pause while feeding, turning their heads right around like an owl, possibly to check for predators.Academic Research
Related publications: Micropsitta pusioSpecies Wild Status
World Population:
Unknown, stable.
IUCN Red List Status:
Least Concern
CITES Listing:
Appendix II
Threat Summary:
Not globally threatened. Very uncommon or local on Sepik River, but common in Owen Stanley Range foothills, SE Papua New Guinea, Bismarcks and Bagabag. Abundance may be underestimated due to shy habits.
Range:
M.p. pusio: Bismarck Archipelago, east to Duke of York Island, and SE New Guinea, west in north to Astrolabe Bay and in south to Purari River and Lake Kutubu, C Papua New Guinea.
M.p. beccarii: N New Guinea, from west coast of Geelvink Bay, Irian Jaya, east to Astrolabe Bay.
M.p. harterti: Fergusson Island, in D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago, E Papua New Guinea.
M.p. stresemanni: Misima and Tagula Islands, in Louisiade Archipelago, E Papua New Guinea.
Habitat:
Found up to 900m (2952 ft) in lowland forest, hill forest, gallery forest and secondary growth areas. Also found locally in heavy savanna and coconut groves.
Wild Diet:
Feeds on lichen and fungi from bark, small seeds, fruit and insects.
Ecology and Behaviour:
Are seen in pairs or groups of up to 30 individuals, moving quickly up and down from lower to middle storeys of the canopy. Roosts communally.
Clutch and Egg Size:
3 rounded eggs, 16.5 x 13.5mm (0.6 x 0.5 in)
Breeding Season:
September-May. Nest is in arboreal termitarium.
Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot
© Mehd Halaouate
Photos
View in GalleryDid You Know?
The Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot feeds while gripping upside down on the sides of tree trunks, tail braced as a prop. They pause while feeding, turning their heads right around like an owl, possibly to check for predators.Academic Research
Related publications: Micropsitta pusioMembers Only Resources
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