Blue-crowned racket-tail | |
---|---|
Juvenile | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Psittaciformes |
Family: | Psittaculidae |
Genus: | Prioniturus |
Species: | P. discurus |
Binomial name | |
Prioniturus discurus (Vieillot, 1822) | |
The blue-crowned racket-tail (Prioniturus discurus) is a parrot found endemic to the Philippines. It is 27cm, basically green with a blue crown, bluish undertail, whitish beak, and dark underwings with green coverts. It was formerly conspecific with, Mindoro racket-tail and Blue-headed racket-tail [1]
EBird describes the bird as "A medium-sized parrot of forest from the lowlands to lower mountains. The two central tail feathers have extended shafts ending in a racket shape. Overall green in color, darker on the back and paler below, with deeper green on the head and a blue crown. Overlaps with Mindanao Racquet-tail, but has a brighter green back, lacks blue on the cheek, and is found at lower elevations. Voice consists of ringing metallic squawks that are similar to Green Racquet-tail’s, but more grating." [2]
Formerly conspecific with, Mindoro racket-tail and Blue-headed racket-tail but was proven a distinct species by molecular studies and is differentiated by its call, amount and placement of blue on its head.
Two subspecies are recognized:
Races may represent two distinct species and further studies are needed to better understand its taxonomy especially the populations on Samar and Leyte which appears to be an intermediate form [3]
Diet is poorly documented but known to feed on bananas and figs. Forms small flocks of up to 12 birds. Breeding occurs in August to September. They are cavity nesters, using old woodpecker nests, and make nesting colonies in tall live trees. Clutch is typically three eggs. [4]
This species habitat is primary and secondary forest up to 1,750 but mostly below 1,500 as it is replaced by Montane racket-tail and Mindanao racket-tail there after. Also visits mangroves, orchards and feeds on banana plantation.
IUCN has assessed this bird as least-concern species with the population believed to be stable - making this the only racket-tail with this status. It appears to be much more tolerant to habitat loss and remains locally common. However, deforestation in the Philippines continues throughout the country due to slash and burn farming, mining, illegal logging and habitat conversion. This species is still trapped for the pet trade.
It is found in multiple protected areas such as Bicol Natural Park Pasonanca Natural Park, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape, Northern Negros Natural Park, Samar Island Natural Park but like all areas in the Philippines, protection is lax and deforestation continues despite this protection on paper. [5]
The Mindanao hornbill, also known as the Mindanao tarictic hornbill, is a medium-small species of hornbill found in the canopy of rainforests on Mindanao, Dinagat, Siargao and Basilan in the southern Philippines. All five Philippine tarictics we're once considered a single species. It is declining due to habitat destruction, hunting and the illegal wildlife trade.
The green racket-tail is an endemic parrot of the Philippines where it is found on Luzon and Marinduque. This species was once common, but is rapidly declining and is currently classified as endangered due to lowland deforestation and capture for cage-bird trade. The population is now estimated to be just 1,000 - 2,499 mature individuals and is continuing to decline with many local extinctions in its former range.
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The Samar hornbill is a species of hornbill in the family Bucerotidae. It is found in forests on the islands of Samar, Calicoan, Leyte and Bohol in the east-central Philippines. As is the case with all Philippine tarictic hornbills, it has been considered a subspecies of Visayan hornbill Alternatively, it is considered a subspecies of Mindanao hornbill.
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The montane racket-tail, also known as the Luzon racket-tail, is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It was previously considered conspecific with the Mindanao racket-tail. This bird is endemic to the mountainous regions of northern Luzon, Philippines. It faces threats from habitat loss and the cage bird trade. Under Philippine Law RA 9147, it is illegal to hunt, capture, or possess rufous hornbills.
The Mindanao racket-tail is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is endemic to Mindanao in the Philippines. It was previously conspecific with the Luzon Racket-tail. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate waterstradti in the south-east, and malindangensis in the west. Its natural habitat is tropical moist montane forests. It is becoming rare due to habitat loss and trapping for the pet trade.
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The Visayan blue fantail is a species of bird in the family Rhipiduridae. It is endemic to the Philippines on the islands of Bohol, Leyte and Samar. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It was previously conspecific with the Mindanao blue fantail.
The Mindoro racket-tail is a species of parrot in the Psittaculinae family. It was formerly considered conspecific with the blue-crowned racket-tail. It is endemic to the island of Mindoro in the Philippines and it occurs in tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss and trapping for the cage-bird trade.
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