Red-fronted Parrot
Poicephalus gulielmi
A chunky, mid-sized parrot with a short tail. Mostly dark green with variably sized red patches on the crown, shoulders, and thighs. The red shoulders are often conspicuous in flight. Found in both lowland and montane forest as well as adjacent secondary habitats, usually in pairs or flocks, which sometimes contain dozens of birds. Similar to Brown-necked Parrot but smaller, with a smaller bill and a green rather than gray head. The calls are thin, high-pitched screeches.
Identification
The red-fronted parrot is 28 cm (11 in) long. It is mostly green and has a short black squarish tail. Black feathers on the head, neck, back, and wings have lighter green edges giving a scalloped appearance. The lower mandible is dark grey and the upper mandible has a horn coloured base and a dark grey tip. The irises are red-orange, the eyerings are pinkish-grey, and the legs are grey-brown. The amount of red or orange on the forecrown, the bend of the wing, and thighs varies in the three subspecies but is absent in all young birds – juveniles having a dark smokey appearance above a paler beak and brown irises. The adult male and female are identical in external appearance. Gender determination of chicks is normally carried out by breeders using DNA analysis of a feather sample or by internal examination of the cloaca. This latter method is cheaper and quicker but does cause some distress to the bird.
Taxonomy
The first red-fronted parrot to be scientifically identified was named Congo Jack. The parrot was brought back live from the Congo to the United Kingdom by Sir William Jardine's son on his return from a three-year cruise on HMS Favourite. Congo Jack became tame and whistled and screamed, rather than talk. Sir William Jardine gave the species the binomial name Pionus Gulielmi after his son, William R.N. (Latin: Gulielmi means "William's"), and published the description in 1849.<p>Three subspecies are now recognized:
- Scientific name
- Poicephalus gulielmi
- Authority
- (Jardine, 1849)
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Genus
- Poicephalus
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The red-fronted parrot nests in tree cavities. The eggs are white and there are usually three or four in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for about 27 days and the chicks leave the nest about 80 days after hatching.<p>They fly swiftly making noisy calls above the forest in pairs or small groups between their night-time roosts and feeding grounds. They feed quietly in the upper canopy of trees, where they are well camouflaged.
Conservation
The wild red-fronted parrot population in Africa is difficult to estimate, because of its vast range. They are potentially threatened by trapping of wild parrots for the pet trade;They are listed on appendix II of The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), along with almost all other parrot species. This has made the trade, import and export of all wild caught parrots illegal.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Red-headed Bunting
Emberiza bruniceps
Large, stocky bunting with a long tail. Rusty-red head and yellow body easily identify the breeding male; non-breeding male has restricted red on the head and a streaky brown back. Female and juvenile are pale brown with streaked back and wings; these plumages can be nearly impossible to separate from Black-headed Bunting. Look out for Red-headed’s less extensive crown streaking, less “compact” appearance (longer-billed and longer-tailed), less yellow underparts, and colder back coloration. Breeds in open dry spaces with scattered bushes; winters in agricultural fields. Song starts out with a few dry, rasping notes, then turns into a more fluid-sounding jumble.
White-throated Rock-Thrush
Monticola gularis
Uncommon throughout most of its range, this elusive rock thrush breeds in rocky hill forest in northeastern China and Russia and migrates down the East Asian coast to winter in southern China and mainland Southeast Asia. Beautiful and distinctive male has a blue crown, orange underparts, and black wings marked with a bright white patch; small white patch on throat is not obvious and difficult to see. Female is brown with scaly markings on her back and breast; she lacks a pale crescent behind the eye. Usually stays low in shrubbery, but male will sing from an exposed perch.
Red-fan Parrot
Deroptyus accipitrinus
Parrot of lowland rainforest; usually looks dark and long-tailed at a distance. At close range, easily told by white crown and diagnostic red-and-blue “fan,” which is usually held flat against the neck but may be extended when birds are excited. Distinctive flapping-and-gliding flight style is unique among Amazonian parrots. Often observed foraging in small groups or perched on bare branches along edges of clearings and along rivers. Most common call a stuttering, grating screech, somewhat similar to Black-headed and White-bellied parrots.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.