Mindanao Racket-tail (Prioniturus waterstradti)

Mindanao Racket-tail

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

P.w. waterstradti: both adults-pale blue forehead to lores and beneath eyes; upperparts washed with brown; low back green/brown; belly olive/green; middle tail feathers green, “racquets” black, side tail feathers green tipped with black. Bill blue/grey. Eye dark brown. P.w. malindangensis: both adults-blue on forehead and beneath eye paler; less brown on back.

Listen to the sound of Mindanao Racket-tail

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

Copyright remark: Most sounds derived from xeno-canto

recorded by Desmond Allen

wingspan min.:	26	cm	wingspan max.:	28	cm
size min.:	27	cm	size max.:	29	cm
incubation min.:	0	days	incubation max.:	0	days
fledging min.:	0	days	fledging max.:	0	days
broods:	0		eggs min.:	0
			eggs max.:	0

Range

Oriental Region : Mindanao, Philippines. Prioniturus waterstradti is endemic to Mindanao, Philippines, where it is known from nine montane localities, as follows: Mt Hilong-hilong; Mt Mayo; Anakan and Civolig near Gingoog City; Mt Kitanglad; Mt Apo; Mt Matutum; Lake Sebu; and Mt Malindang.

Habitat

It inhabits humid montane forest at 820-2,700 m, but it has been recorded as low as 450 m.

Reproduction

No data

Feeding habits

No data

Video Mindanao Racket-tail

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfCg5YLiwtY

Conservation

This species is listed as Near Threatened because there are some indications that it has a moderately small, fragmented population within a restricted range, which is undergoing some decline owing to habitat loss. However, little recent data is available about the population size and structure of, and threats to, this species. Further information may indicate it is more threatened.
The notion that it is local and uncommon, apparently occurring at lower density than some of its congeners appears to be over-cautious, with evidence to the contrary coming from several sources old and new. Moreover, montane habitats are relatively secure compared to lower formations. The population was estimated in 1993 at c.5,000 individuals and declining. The population is suspected to be in decline owing to ongoing forest degradation and trapping for the cagebird trade. Forest loss may represent a threat but it is not thought to have a significant impact within this species’s alititudinal range. Many parrots in the region are affected by trapping for trade, but its impacts upon this species are not known

Mindanao Racket-tail status Near Threatened

Migration

It occurs in groups of 2-10 individuals and apparently undertakes daily altitudinal migrations.

Distribution map

Mindanao Racket-tail distribution range map

Planet of Birds