Mindanao lorikeet

The Mindanao lorikeet or Mount Apo lorikeet (Trichoglossus johnstoniae) is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. There are two very similar subspecies, which are both endemic to Mindanao, Philippines.

Mindanao lorikeet
At London Zoo, England

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Genus: Trichoglossus
Species:
T. johnstoniae
Binomial name
Trichoglossus johnstoniae
Hartert, 1903

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Description

The Mindanao lorikeet is about 20 cm (8 in) long. It is mainly green with yellow transverse striations on its front. Its face is red and there is a dark purple band around its head. There is extensive yellow areas on the lower surface of its wings. Its legs are greenish-grey. The beak is orange, the eye-ring is dark grey, the irises are red. Male and female are identical in external appearance. Juveniles have less red on their faces and the purple headband is replaced with a brownish area behind the eye, their eye-rings are pale grey, their irises are brown, and the beak is dark brown. Eats Butterflies, seeds and small insects like spiders. [2]

Taxonomy

There are two poorly differentiated subspecies:[2]

  • Trichoglossus j. johnstoniae - central and southeast Mindanao
  • Trichoglossus j. pistra - western Mindanao

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Trichoglossus johnstoniae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. Forshaw (2006). plate 13.

Cited Texts


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