Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot

Overview

The blue-crowned hanging parrot (Loriculus galgulus) is a small parrot species endemic to southern Burma, Thailand, Malaya, Singapore, and Indonesia. It belongs to the genus Loriculus and is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Adults possess green plumage and a black beak, with males displaying a distinct blue crown patch, a red throat mark, and a red rump bordered by yellow on the lower back.
• Females exhibit duller green plumage, lack the red throat mark, and have a less apparent or absent blue crown and yellow lower back.
• Juveniles have dull green plumage, minimal blue crown patches, and light-coloured bills.
• Calls are shrill and squeaky, becoming rapid and ringing when the birds fly in flocks.

Habitat

The species is distributed throughout southern Thailand, western Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Borneo, and other nearby islands. It inhabits forests, forest edges, swamps, riverine forest, bamboo patches, mangrove wooded gardens, and coconut groves, as well as plantations.

Diet

The bird primarily feeds on fruits such as papaya and rambutan, but also consumes palm oil nuts, seeds, nectar, and fresh flowers. Young birds use their mandibles to nibble and break off food pieces, while adults use their feet or bills to carry food to a perch for consumption.

Did you know?

This parrot sleeps upside down by hanging from tree branches by one or both feet, a behaviour that evolved to mimic leaves and limit nighttime predation.