Moluccan King Parrot
Encyclopedia
The Moluccan King Parrot, Alisterus amboinensis, is a parrot that is endemic to Peleng Island, Maluku
and West Papua in Indonesia
. It is sometimes referred to as the Ambon King Parrot or Amboina King Parrot, but this is potentially misleading, as it is found on numerous other islands than Ambon
. The male and female are similar in appearance, with a predominantly red head and underparts, green wings (blue in one subspecies
), and blue back and tail. Six subspecies are recognised, but only a few of these are regular in aviculture
. In the wild, it inhabits rainforests and feeds on fruits, berries, seeds and bud
s.
Described by Linnaeus
in 1766, the Moluccan King Parrot is one of three species collectively known as king parrots found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. It has six subspecies:
and tail-coverts dark purple-blue. Tail darker blackish blue, irises orange, and the legs are dark grey. The lower mandible is blackish, and the upper mandible is orange-red with a blackish tip, except in the subspecies buruensis, where the entire bill is blackish. Unlike the other species of king parrots, the Moluccan King Parrot does not display sexual dimorphism
; that is, the sexes have similar plumage. Juvenile birds have a dark-brown bill tipped paler, greenish mantle, dark brown irises and red-tips to lateral tail feathers. Birds reach maturity in one year.
for 19 days. After hatching the chicks are ready to fledge
at nine weeks old.
The Moluccan King Parrot inhabits rainforests, but sometimes enters nearby plantations and gardens. Exceptionally, it occurs at altitude up to 2100 m, but more commonly below 1200 m (New Guinea
) or 1600 m (Maluku
).
The Moluccan King Parrot is generally uncommon due to habitat loss and capture for the parrot trade, but remains locally common at least on the Sula Islands, Halmahera and Buru. Overall the species is not believed to be in immediate danger, and consequently is listed as Least Concern
by BirdLife International
and IUCN. As most parrots, the Moluccan King Parrot is listed in Appendix II of CITES.
.
Maluku Islands
The Maluku Islands are an archipelago that is part of Indonesia, and part of the larger Maritime Southeast Asia region. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone...
and West Papua in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. It is sometimes referred to as the Ambon King Parrot or Amboina King Parrot, but this is potentially misleading, as it is found on numerous other islands than Ambon
Ambon Island
Ambon Island is part of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. The island has an area of , and is mountainous, well watered, and fertile. Ambon Island consists of 2 territories: The main city and seaport is Ambon , which is also the capital of Maluku province and Maluku Tengah Ambon Island is part of the...
. The male and female are similar in appearance, with a predominantly red head and underparts, green wings (blue in one subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
), and blue back and tail. Six subspecies are recognised, but only a few of these are regular in aviculture
Aviculture
Aviculture is the practice of keeping and breeding birds and the culture that forms around it. Aviculture is generally focused on not only the raising and breeding of birds, but also on preserving avian habitat, and public awareness campaigns....
. In the wild, it inhabits rainforests and feeds on fruits, berries, seeds and bud
Bud
In botany, a bud is an undeveloped or embryonic shoot and normally occurs in the axil of a leaf or at the tip of the stem. Once formed, a bud may remain for some time in a dormant condition, or it may form a shoot immediately. Buds may be specialized to develop flowers or short shoots, or may have...
s.
Taxonomy
Carolus Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
in 1766, the Moluccan King Parrot is one of three species collectively known as king parrots found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia. It has six subspecies:
- Alisterus amboinensis (Linnaeus, 1766)
- Alisterus amboinensis amboinensis (Linnaeus, 1766) is the nominate subspecies and found on AmbonAmbon IslandAmbon Island is part of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia. The island has an area of , and is mountainous, well watered, and fertile. Ambon Island consists of 2 territories: The main city and seaport is Ambon , which is also the capital of Maluku province and Maluku Tengah Ambon Island is part of the...
and SeramSeramSeram is an island in the Maluku province of Indonesia. It is located north of Ambon Island. The chief port/town is Masohi.- Geography and geology :...
. - Alisterus amboinensis buruensis (Salvadori, 1876) is found on BuruBuruBuru is the third largest island within Maluku Islands of Malay Archipelago. It lies between the Banda Sea to the south and Seram Sea to the north, west of Ambon and Seram islands. The island belongs to Maluku province of Indonesia and includes the Buru and South Buru regencies...
in central Maluku. - Alisterus amboinensis dorsalis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830) is found in West Papua. The red plumage is slightly darker in this subspecies.
- Alisterus amboinensis hypophonius (S. Müller, 1843) has all blue wings and is endemic to HalmaheraHalmaheraHalmahera is the largest island in the Maluku Islands. It is part of the North Maluku province of Indonesia.Halmahera has a land area of 17,780 km² and a population in 1995 of 162,728...
in northern Maluku. - Alisterus amboinensis sulaensis (Reichenow, 1881) is found on the Sula IslandsSula IslandsThe Sula Islands are a group of islands in North Maluku in Indonesia. Its three main islands are Mangole, Sanae and Taliabu, with smaller islands Lifamatola and Seho. It is administered as Kepulauan Sula Regency...
. - Alisterus amboinensis versicolor Neumann, 1939 is endemic to the island of PelengPelengPeleng is an island off the East coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia and is the largest island of the Banggai Islands group of islands...
of the Banggai Islands.
- Alisterus amboinensis amboinensis (Linnaeus, 1766) is the nominate subspecies and found on Ambon
Description
An adult Moluccan King Parrot measures 35–40 cm (14 in) in length and has a red head and chest, outer wings dull green (except in subspecies hypophonius, where blue), mantle, lesser wing covertsCovert (feather)
A covert feather on a bird is one of a set of feathers, called coverts, which as the name implies, cover other feathers. The coverts help to smooth airflow over the wings and tail.- Wing-coverts :...
and tail-coverts dark purple-blue. Tail darker blackish blue, irises orange, and the legs are dark grey. The lower mandible is blackish, and the upper mandible is orange-red with a blackish tip, except in the subspecies buruensis, where the entire bill is blackish. Unlike the other species of king parrots, the Moluccan King Parrot does not display sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
; that is, the sexes have similar plumage. Juvenile birds have a dark-brown bill tipped paler, greenish mantle, dark brown irises and red-tips to lateral tail feathers. Birds reach maturity in one year.
Behavior
Encountered alone or in pairs, occasionally in small groups, it mainly frequents dense cover in the lower and mid-levels of forests. It is inconspicuous and rather quiet, except in flight. It consumes fruit, berries, seeds and buds. Nesting takes place in a tree-hollow. The breeding season begins in February and March, although breeding has not been observed in the wild, in captivity the clutch consists of two eggs which are incubatedAvian incubation
Incubation refers to the process by which certain oviparous animals hatch their eggs, and to the development of the embryo within the egg. The most vital factor of incubation is the constant temperature required for its development over a specific period. Especially in domestic fowl, the act of...
for 19 days. After hatching the chicks are ready to fledge
Fledge
Fledge is the stage in a young bird's life when the feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight. It also describes the act of a chick's parents raising it to a fully grown state...
at nine weeks old.
Habitat and status
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
) or 1600 m (Maluku
Maluku Islands
The Maluku Islands are an archipelago that is part of Indonesia, and part of the larger Maritime Southeast Asia region. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone...
).
The Moluccan King Parrot is generally uncommon due to habitat loss and capture for the parrot trade, but remains locally common at least on the Sula Islands, Halmahera and Buru. Overall the species is not believed to be in immediate danger, and consequently is listed as Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern is an IUCN category assigned to extant taxon or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. As such they do not qualify as threatened, Near Threatened, or Conservation Dependent...
by BirdLife International
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
and IUCN. As most parrots, the Moluccan King Parrot is listed in Appendix II of CITES.
Aviculture
Until recently only the subspecies amboinensis and hypophonius were seen regularly seen in aviculture, but buruensis and dorsalis are now also present, at least in zoos. It has regularly been bred in captivity, for example in DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
External links
- BirdLife Species Factsheet
- Oriental Bird Images: Moluccan King Parrot Selected photos