[order] PSITTACIFORMES | [family] Psittacidae | [latin] Poicephalus fuscicollis | [authority] Gmelin, 1788 | [UK] Brown-necked Parrot | [FR] Perroquet robuste | [DE] Kappapagei | [ES] Lorito Robusto | [NL] Kaapse Papegaai | [copyright picture] Cyril Laubscher
Subspecies
Monotypic species
Genus
The genus Poicephalus comprises 10 species of small and medium-sized parrots, which collectively are distributed over much of Africa south of the Sahara Desert. The genus is characterized by parrots that are compact and stocky; have head coloration that is often distinct from body coloration; have relatively large heads, square tails, and relatively large bills (Poicephalus means, literally, “made of head”); and are either sexually dimorphic or monomorphic depending on species.
Physical charateristics
Both adults have varying plumage; head and neck grey to light brown/pink, scalloped lightly orange/brown; orange/red band across the crown in female (absent in males); dark green back and wings; green rump and underparts; orange/red thighs, bend of wing, and carpal edge; black/brown tail; dark brown eye; white/grey eye ring (bare); and horn-coloured bill. P.f. suahelicus: Both adults have varying plumage; head and neck silver/grey, scalloped lightly orange/brown; orange/red band across the crown in female (absent in males); dark green back and wings; green/blue rump and underparts; orange/red thighs, bend of wing, and carpal edge; black/brown tail; dark brown eye; white/grey eye ring (bare); and horn-coloured bill.
Listen to the sound of Brown-necked Parrot
[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/PSITTACIFORMES/Psittacidae/sounds/Brown-necked Parrot.mp3]
Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto
| wingspan min.: | 0 | cm | wingspan max.: | 0 | cm |
| size min.: | 32 | cm | size max.: | 34 | cm |
| incubation min.: | 26 | days | incubation max.: | 28 | days |
| fledging min.: | 55 | days | fledging max.: | 75 | days |
| broods: | 1 | eggs min.: | 2 | ||
| eggs max.: | 4 |
Range
Africa : West.
Habitat
Inhabits primary and secondary rain-forest, forest edges and clearings, gallery forest and mangroves; wooded savanna, cultivated land and even gardens are also frequented. Mostly confined to lowland areas, although in E of range recorded to 2,200 m.
Reproduction
Breeds in dead tree holes (South Africa) or in Boabab or Mangroves elsewhere. Clutch size is 3-4 eggs which are incubated for about 4 weeks. Nestling period between 8-11 weeks.
Feeding habits
Diet consists of a wide variety of fruits, nuts, seeds, kernels, and millet.
Video Brown-necked Parrot
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKPr3OJyDG0
copyright: Josep del Hoyo
Conservation
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not 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). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to 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.
Local and mostly uncommon throughout range, although more numerous and frequent in Ghana. Southern subspecies considered vulnerable in South Africa where, although erratic movements give impression of fluctuating population, it has suffered a decline because of trapping for live bird markets, habitat destruction and persecution by pecan nut farmers; only fragmented patches of native vegetation now remain. Generally scarce or rare through W Africa (except Ghana).
Local and mostly uncommon throughout range, although more numerous and frequent in Ghana. Southern subspecies considered vulnerable in South Africa where, although erratic movements give impression of fluctuating population, it has suffered a decline because of trapping for live bird markets, habitat destruction and persecution by pecan nut farmers; only fragmented patches of native vegetation now remain. Generally scarce or rare through W Africa (except Ghana).
Migration
Most populations resident but in dry season will wander in search of food, nomadic.
Distribution map
