Green Racket-tail Parrot (Prioniturus luconensis)

Green Racket-tail Parrot

Subspecies

Monotypic species

Genus

The taxonomy of racquet-tail parrots, genus Prioniturus, has been often revised with nine species recognised. Six species are endemic to the Philippines, of which three are threatened with extinction. Indonesia, with three species, is the only other country where Prioniturus occur. The island of Buru is home to a single endemic species that is classified as near threatened. The remaining two species, the Golden-mantled Racquet-tail P. platurus and the Yellowish-breasted Racquet-tail P. flavicans both occur on Sulawesi. P. platurus is distributed across the entire island and has the greater altitudinal range of the two species. In contrast, P. flavicans is endemic to the northern peninsula and immediately adjacent offshore islands. It is currently classified as near threatened. Very little is known of the ecology of any Prioniturus species, with data on nesting and breeding behaviour virtually unrecorded. Available information comes from the few nests that have been identified, sightings of juveniles, and the breeding condition of specimen birds.

Physical charateristics

Green parrot with racquet-like tail extensions. Bright yellow-green head and breast. Rest of plumage green, darkest on wings and tail. Whitish-grey bill. Female is more uniform green, lacking yellow tones of male. Montane Racquet-tail P. montanus has blue on head. Possible confusion with Tanygnathus parrots, but is smaller, longer-tailed (with racquets) and has pale, not red, bill.

Listen to the sound of Green Racket-tail Parrot

[audio:http://www.planetofbirds.com/MASTER/PSITTACIFORMES/Psittacidae/sounds/Green Racket-tail Parrot.mp3]

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto

recorded by Desmond Allen

wingspan min.:	0	cm	wingspan max.:	0	cm
size min.:	29	cm	size max.:	31	cm
incubation min.:	0	days	incubation max.:	0	days
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broods:	0		eggs min.:	0
			eggs max.:	0

Range

Oriental Region : Philippines. On Luzon and Marinduque, Philippines. Present in the following Important Bird Areas: Bataan Natural Park and Subic Bay Forest Reserve, Mariveles Mountains, Mount Cetaceo, Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Central Sierra Madre mountains, Aurora Memorial National Park, Angat Watershed (possibly extinct).

Habitat

It is a lowland species on Luzon, with records in the Sierra Madre from 300-700 m. On Marinduque it has been recorded above 1,000 m. Its increasing rarity suggests a dependence on lowland primary forest

Reproduction

No data

Feeding habits

Diet includes fruit especially bananas, corn, rice, seeds and flowers.

Video Green Racket-tail Parrot

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOj2jyYaAwo

Conservation

This species is assumed to be undergoing a continuing rapid decline owing to extensive lowland deforestation. As a result its now small population is becoming increasingly severely fragmented, qualifying it as Vulnerable.
Formerly widespread and locally abundant, it has declined rapidly. In Sierra Madre mountains on Luzon still locally common and probably relatively secure. However, at two sites with records since 1980, Quezon National Park and Angat Dam, it now appears to be extinct. There are no recent records from Marinduque, where it may already be extinct.

Green Racket-tail Parrot status Vulnerable

Migration

No information, presumed sedentary

Distribution map

Green Racket-tail Parrot distribution range map

Planet of Birds