Large Fig-Parrot
Cyclopsitta desmarestii
A medium-sized, chunky parrot of forest from the lowlands to the mid-mountains. Reddish forehead, orange crown, yellow cheek and blue or purple band across the chest. Races differ and considered separate species by some. Similar-sized Edward’s & Salvadori’s Fig-Parrots not thought to co-occur, but Large Fig-Parrot has an orange rather than green crown. Somewhat similar to Double-eyed Fig-Parrot, but Large Fig-Parrot is larger and has yellow-orange cheek and a breast band. Fairly vocal. Call, a sharp, loud “tshek!” or sharp, slurred phrase sounding like a rusty-hinged door.
Identification
It has a red to orange cap, a light blue eye patch below its eye, yellow face, pale turquoise ring tinged with red, grey-black bill and green body. Male and female adults are identical in external appearance and juveniles tend to have duller colours on the head, but otherwise resemble adults.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Cyclopsitta desmarestii
- Authority
- (Desmarest, 1826)
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittaculidae
- Genus
- Cyclopsitta
Range and habitat
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical or tropical mangrove forest, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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The most widespread rosy-finch. Body is the color of milk chocolate. Look for pink highlights in the wings, tail and belly. Several different populations; some have gray wrapping around the back of the head only above the eye, others have entirely gray cheek. Breeds at the highest elevations; descends to lower elevations in winter. Often in mixed flocks in winter with other rosy-finches. Feeds on seeds and insects. Look for them foraging on alpine snowfields. Visits feeders, primarily in winter.
Pygmy Cupwing
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Essentially a tiny brown tennis ball supported by tiny chopsticks. Dark brown above with densely packed black-and-white scaling on the underside. Gives the impression of a tailless rodent as it makes its way furtively through dense shrubbery and leaf litter. Can be quite vocal and is jarringly loud for its size, giving single well-spaced piercing whistles on different high pitches, and occasionally an accelerating, usually rising rapid series of whistles. Also gives a sharp chip.
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Small, pale plover with broken collar. In breeding plumage, black ear patch is distinctive. Thin black bill separates from other small plovers at all times of year. Also note relatively long, grayish legs. Typically uncommon. Found on sandy beaches on the coast and inland; usually singly or in small loose flocks. Larger numbers gather at key sites after breeding in summer and fall. Quickly darts around searching for invertebrates in the sand.
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