Finsch's pygmy parrot (Micropsitta finschii), also known as the emerald pygmy parrot and green pygmy parrot, is a member of parrot family Psittacidae inhabiting tropical rainforest regions of islands in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Bismarck Archipelago.
The common name and scientific name commemorate the German ethnographer, naturalist, and colonial explorer Friedrich Hermann Otto Finsch (8 August 1839 - 31 January 1917, Braunschweig).[2]
Finsch's pygmy parrot is characterized by a green head and neck (which is unique among species of the genus Micropsitta). The typical length of a green pygmy parrot is 9.5 cm (3.7 in) with an average weight of 12 g (0.42 oz).[3] Male and female individuals can be identified by slight differences in coloration.[3] For example, in one subspecies, males possess a blue patch around the lower section of the beak, whereas the female's patch is pink. The five recognized subspecies each inhabit a different range within the overall distribution of the species and each has different characteristics between genders.[3]
Taxonomyedit
Finsch's pygmy parrot is a member of the genus Micropsitta (pygmy parrots). Genus Micropsitta is included in the subfamily Psittacinae (true parrots and allies) of the family Psittacidae (true parrots). The species, Micropsitta finschii, is further divided into five subspecies[1][3][4][5]
M. f. aolae is found in Guadalcanal, Malaita, Florida (island, not state), and Russell (central Solomon Islands). Adults have a darker green upper body and have a blue patch on the crown.
M. f. finschii is found in Ugi, San Cristobal, and Rennell (southern Solomon Islands). Males have blue around the lower mandible (beak) and an orange patch in the center of the abdomen. Females lack the orange patch, and have pink feathers around the lower mandible.
M. f. nanina is found in Santa Isabel, Bugotu, and Choiseul (northern Solomon Islands), as well as in Bougainville Island. Adults have a blue patch on the crown.
M. f. tristrami is found in Vella Lavella, Gizo, Kolombangara, New Georgia, Rubiana, and Rendova (in the western Solomon Islands). Adults have no blue patches or orange abdominal patches.
M. f. viridifrons is found in Lihir and Tabar, New Hanover, New Ireland, and in the Bismarck Archipelago (in eastern Papua New Guinea). Adults have a large blue patch on the crown, as well as blue around the sides of the face.
Habitatedit
The parrots are found in tropical rainforests (up to an elevation of 900 m (3,000 ft)).[3] The birds are most often observed in the forest interior and in river edge vegetation. They are arboreal and have been observed nesting in old arboreal ant/termite mounds. The birds construct a tunnel into the mound, which is used also as a roost. The birds are described as being abundant in their habitats.
Behaviouredit
Dietedit
The birds find food by climbing tree bark vertically or by climbing along the bottom of branches while hanging upside-down.[3] While foraging and feeding, the tail feathers are used as a prop against the tree surface.[3] The parrot feeds on fungi and lichens found on the tree bark, as well as the seeds of the casuarina tree in which it is commonly found.[6] Some birds apparently associate with slow-moving mixed bird flocks.
Vocalizationsedit
The song of Finsch's pygmy parrot is a series of repeated whistles. Each whistle consists of a “tweet-tweet” sound, where the second “tweet” is prolonged and is higher in pitch.[3] Other sounds produced include shrill squawking and chattering.[3]
Reproductionedit
Finsch's pygmy parrots are often found in pairs or small groups (three to six individuals).[7] The groups often include socially monogamous (for up to a year) mating pairs.[7] The breeding season is from March to May, and a typical clutch has one or two eggs. Both parents provide care for the altricial offspring, and parent-offspring interactions are often prolonged.[7] Information on specific incubation times and chick-rearing times is unavailable, as captive individuals have a low survival rate.
Referencesedit
^ abBirdLife International (2016). "Micropsitta finschii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22684866A93050353. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22684866A93050353.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael (2003). Whose Birds? Men and Women Commemorated in the Common Names of Birds. London: Christopher Helm. p. 127.
^ abcdefghiForshaw, Joseph M. (2006). Parrots of the World. Princeton University Press. p. 25. ISBN0-691-09251-6
^Diamond, Jared (1976). Distributional Ecology and Habits of Some Bougainville Birds (Solomon Islands). The Condor, v.77, No. 1, p. 14-23
^Kratter et al. (2001). Avifauna of a Lowland Forest Site on Isabel, Solomon Islands. The Auk, v. 118, no. 2, p. 472-483
^del Hoyo, Elliott and Sargatal. 1992. Handbook to the birds of the world. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain
^ abcSpoon, Tracey R. (2006). Parrot Reproductive Behaviour, or Who Associates, Who Mates, and Who Cares?. In Luescher, Andrew U.'s (ed.) Manual of Parrot Behaviour. (p. 63-77) Ames, Iowa: Blackwell Publishing ISBN0-8138-2749-3
External linksedit
Vocalizations of the Finsch's pygmy parrot
December 15, 2023
finsch, pygmy, parrot, micropsitta, finschii, also, known, emerald, pygmy, parrot, andgreen, pygmy, parrot, member, parrot, family, psittacidae, inhabiting, tropical, rainforest, regions, islands, papua, guinea, solomon, islands, bismarck, archipelago, conserv. Finsch s pygmy parrot Micropsitta finschii also known as the emerald pygmy parrot andgreen pygmy parrot is a member of parrot family Psittacidae inhabiting tropical rainforest regions of islands in Papua New Guinea the Solomon Islands and the Bismarck Archipelago Finsch s pygmy parrotConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PsittaciformesFamily PsittaculidaeGenus MicropsittaSpecies M finschiiBinomial nameMicropsitta finschii Ramsay 1881 Range in redThe common name and scientific name commemorate the German ethnographer naturalist and colonial explorer Friedrich Hermann Otto Finsch 8 August 1839 31 January 1917 Braunschweig 2 Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy 3 Habitat 4 Behaviour 4 1 Diet 4 2 Vocalizations 4 3 Reproduction 5 References 6 External linksDescription editFinsch s pygmy parrot is characterized by a green head and neck which is unique among species of the genus Micropsitta The typical length of a green pygmy parrot is 9 5 cm 3 7 in with an average weight of 12 g 0 42 oz 3 Male and female individuals can be identified by slight differences in coloration 3 For example in one subspecies males possess a blue patch around the lower section of the beak whereas the female s patch is pink The five recognized subspecies each inhabit a different range within the overall distribution of the species and each has different characteristics between genders 3 Taxonomy editFinsch s pygmy parrot is a member of the genus Micropsitta pygmy parrots Genus Micropsitta is included in the subfamily Psittacinae true parrots and allies of the family Psittacidae true parrots The species Micropsitta finschii is further divided into five subspecies 1 3 4 5 M f aolae is found in Guadalcanal Malaita Florida island not state and Russell central Solomon Islands Adults have a darker green upper body and have a blue patch on the crown M f finschii is found in Ugi San Cristobal and Rennell southern Solomon Islands Males have blue around the lower mandible beak and an orange patch in the center of the abdomen Females lack the orange patch and have pink feathers around the lower mandible M f nanina is found in Santa Isabel Bugotu and Choiseul northern Solomon Islands as well as in Bougainville Island Adults have a blue patch on the crown M f tristrami is found in Vella Lavella Gizo Kolombangara New Georgia Rubiana and Rendova in the western Solomon Islands Adults have no blue patches or orange abdominal patches M f viridifrons is found in Lihir and Tabar New Hanover New Ireland and in the Bismarck Archipelago in eastern Papua New Guinea Adults have a large blue patch on the crown as well as blue around the sides of the face Habitat editThe parrots are found in tropical rainforests up to an elevation of 900 m 3 000 ft 3 The birds are most often observed in the forest interior and in river edge vegetation They are arboreal and have been observed nesting in old arboreal ant termite mounds The birds construct a tunnel into the mound which is used also as a roost The birds are described as being abundant in their habitats Behaviour editDiet edit The birds find food by climbing tree bark vertically or by climbing along the bottom of branches while hanging upside down 3 While foraging and feeding the tail feathers are used as a prop against the tree surface 3 The parrot feeds on fungi and lichens found on the tree bark as well as the seeds of the casuarina tree in which it is commonly found 6 Some birds apparently associate with slow moving mixed bird flocks Vocalizations edit The song of Finsch s pygmy parrot is a series of repeated whistles Each whistle consists of a tweet tweet sound where the second tweet is prolonged and is higher in pitch 3 Other sounds produced include shrill squawking and chattering 3 Reproduction edit Finsch s pygmy parrots are often found in pairs or small groups three to six individuals 7 The groups often include socially monogamous for up to a year mating pairs 7 The breeding season is from March to May and a typical clutch has one or two eggs Both parents provide care for the altricial offspring and parent offspring interactions are often prolonged 7 Information on specific incubation times and chick rearing times is unavailable as captive individuals have a low survival rate References edit a b BirdLife International 2016 Micropsitta finschii IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22684866A93050353 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22684866A93050353 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Beolens Bo Watkins Michael 2003 Whose Birds Men and Women Commemorated in the Common Names of Birds London Christopher Helm p 127 a b c d e f g h i Forshaw Joseph M 2006 Parrots of the World Princeton University Press p 25 ISBN 0 691 09251 6 Diamond Jared 1976 Distributional Ecology and Habits of Some Bougainville Birds Solomon Islands The Condor v 77 No 1 p 14 23 Kratter et al 2001 Avifauna of a Lowland Forest Site on Isabel Solomon Islands The Auk v 118 no 2 p 472 483 del Hoyo Elliott and Sargatal 1992 Handbook to the birds of the world Lynx Edicions Barcelona Spain a b c Spoon Tracey R 2006 Parrot Reproductive Behaviour or Who Associates Who Mates and Who Cares In Luescher Andrew U s ed Manual of Parrot Behaviour p 63 77 Ames Iowa Blackwell Publishing ISBN 0 8138 2749 3External links editVocalizations of the Finsch s pygmy parrot Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Finsch 27s pygmy parrot amp oldid 1188952658, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
