Finsch's Pygmy-Parrot
Micropsitta finschii
A tiny, mostly green parrot, paler green below, with a yellowish undertail and blue uppertail. Some have a bluish cast to the crown. Male has a small orange patch on the belly. Prefers mostly primary forest, but also occurs in secondary habitats up to around 1000 meters of elevation, though often much lower. Red-breasted Pygmy-Parrot differs in its diagnostic pale face, red in males, with strong blue collar and red belly in males, limited blue cap in females. Similar Bismarck Hanging-Parrot is longer-tailed and has blue underwings in flight. Finsch’s call is a typically high-pitched “tsit” or “tsee.”
Identification
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). Male and female individuals can be identified by slight differences in coloration. 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.
Taxonomy
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
- Scientific name
- Micropsitta finschii
- Authority
- (Ramsay, EP, 1881)
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittaculidae
- Genus
- Micropsitta
Range and habitat
The parrots are found in tropical rainforests (up to an elevation of 900 m (3,000 ft)). 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.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The birds find food by climbing tree bark vertically or by climbing along the bottom of branches while hanging upside-down. While foraging and feeding, the tail feathers are used as a prop against the tree surface. 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. Some birds apparently associate with slow-moving mixed bird flocks.<p>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. Other sounds produced include shrill squawking and chattering.<p>Finsch's pygmy parrots are often found in pairs or small groups (three to six individuals). The groups often include socially monogamous (for up to a year) mating pairs. 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. Information on specific incubation times and chick-rearing times is unavailable, as captive individuals have a low survival rate.
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
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Medium-sized woodpecker, plain buffy-brown overall with black-and-white barring on the back. Head pattern varies across range but usually shows some combination of yellow and red. Most males on the Caribbean slope of Mexico and into Central America have a solidly red crown and nape. In flight, look for white rump. Common and conspicuous in open woodlands, deciduous forest, and arid scrub from Texas and Oklahoma south to Nicaragua. Often the default woodpecker close to human settlements. Visits backyards and feeders, especially for oranges and jelly. Hybridizes with Red-bellied Woodpecker at the northern limits of its range and with Hoffmann’s Woodpecker at the southern limits. Also compare with the smaller Yucatan Woodpecker.
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