Papuan King Parrot

The Papuan king parrot, also known as the green-winged king parrot, is a vibrant species of parrot that graces the forests of New Guinea with its presence. This bird is a medium-sized parrot, stretching to a length of 36 cm, including its long and broad tail. It stands on dark grey legs and peers through the world with orange irises.

Identification Tips

In the realm of the Papuan king parrot, sexual dimorphism is quite pronounced. The males are adorned with a red head and neck, a blue back and rump, and green wings, each featuring a broad pale-green band that could be likened to a shoulder stripe. The females, while also displaying this pale-green wing band, have more subtle differences between subspecies. They generally have a red abdomen and a green over the head and neck that seamlessly transitions into the green of the back and wings, with the chest exhibiting faint green and red striations.

Habitat

The Papuan king parrot finds solace in the subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and the subtropical or tropical moist montane forests of New Guinea.

Distribution

This species is distributed across central and eastern New Guinea, extending eastward from the Weyland Mountains. It thrives at altitudes reaching up to 2600 meters.

Behaviour

These birds are often seen alone or in pairs, and occasionally in small flocks that do not exceed ten individuals. They tend to feed quietly within the dense forest canopy, favoring small trees or the lower branches of larger trees. Their discreet feeding habits often render them unnoticed in their natural habitat.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Papuan king parrot is composed of berries, fruit, seeds, and there is speculation that they may also partake in insects.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List has classified the Papuan king parrot as Least Concern, indicating that, for now, this species does not face an immediate threat of extinction in the wild.