Comoro Black Parrot
Coracopsis sibilans
Fairly large, black parrot that is found in humid forest, and sometimes in adjacent plantations. Often seen in flight, sometimes in small, loose flocks. Incredibly loud calls consist mainly of musical whistles, often given in long up-and-down series. Can be very hard to separate from Greater Vasa Parrot, but smaller and smaller-billed, with a curving edge to the skin at the back of the bill. Vocalizations are higher-pitched and more musical than those of Greater Vasa Parrot. Can easily be mistaken for a raptor in flight, but has all-black plumage unlike any raptor in range.
Identification
The Comoros black parrot (Coracopsis sibilans) is a medium-sized parrot endemic to the Comoros. Historically, it has been treated as a subspecies of the lesser vasa parrot, although it shows morphological, ecological and behavioural differences. It was split as a distinct species by the IOC in 2021.
Taxonomy
Genus: Coracopsis; Family: Psittaculidae; Order: Psittaciformes.
- Scientific name
- Coracopsis sibilans
- Authority
- Milne-Edwards & Oustalet, 1885
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittaculidae
- Genus
- Coracopsis
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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