Bismarck Hanging Parrot

The Bismarck hanging parrot (Loriculus tener) is a species of Old World parrot of the family Psittaculidae, and found on several islands of the Bismarck archipelago of Papua New Guinea.

Description[edit]

The Bismarck hanging parrot is small, at just under four inches long. It is predominantly green, slightly darker in color on its upper plumage, lighter on the chest and belly. The main color is interrupted by an orange-red spot on the throat, a yellowish tail and rump (males), and a mild bluish wash on the cheeks (females). The beak is black, the legs are brownish yellow.

Distribution and habitat[edit]

This species is endemic to the Bismarck archipelago, on the islands of New Britain, New Ireland and Lavongai. It is a bird of pristine rainforest up to 600 feet above sea level; the birds are sometimes found up to 1,500 feet above sea level.

Threats[edit]

The Bismarck hanging parrot is largely unknown; its small size makes unnoticeable in the forest, making a population estimate hard to quantify. Deforestation has been occurring in lowland forest areas, and it is believed this activity has made a reduction in numbers. The pet trade has also caused this bird to be listed in Annex II of the CITES Convention; as a result of both, it has been listed as "near threatened" on the IUCN Red List.

References[edit]