Blue-crowned racket-tail

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Blue-crowned racket-tail
Prioniturus discurus -juvenile-8a.jpg
Juvenile
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
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]

Contents

Description and taxonomy

Illustration by John Gould Prioniturus discurus.jpg
Illustration by John Gould

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.

Subspecies

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]

Ecology and behavior

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]

Habitat and conservation status

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]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mindanao hornbill</span> Species of bird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green racket-tail</span> Species of bird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Psittaculini</span> Tribe of birds

Psittaculini is a tribe of parrots of the family Psittaculidae. The subdivisions within the tribe are controversial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-headed racket-tail</span> Species of bird

The blue-headed racket-tail, also known as the Palawan racket-tail and locally as kinawihan, is a parrot found in the western Philippines around Palawan. The species was formerly considered conspecific with the blue-crowned racket-tail. It is locally known as 'kilit'. It inhabits humid lowland forest in small flocks. It is threatened by habitat destruction and limited trapping for the cage-bird trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samar hornbill</span> Species of bird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socorro parakeet</span> Species of bird

The Socorro parakeet, known in aviculture as the Socorro green conure or Socorro conure, is a species of bird in subfamily Arinae of the family Psittacidae, the African and New World parrots. It is endemic to Socorro Island in the Revillagigedo Islands, Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-fronted fig parrot</span> Species of bird

The blue-fronted fig parrot is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is found in Salawati and the Bird's Head Peninsula in New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-breasted racket-tail</span> Species of bird

The yellow-breasted racket-tail is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is endemic to Indonesia where it is found in Sulawesi's northern peninsula and the Togian Islands in the Gulf of Tomini. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buru racket-tail</span> Species of bird

The Buru racket-tail, is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is endemic to the forest on the island of Buru, one of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montane racket-tail</span> Species of bird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mindanao racket-tail</span> Species of bird

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Handsome sunbird</span> Species of bird

The handsome sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is endemic to the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-throated sunbird</span> Species of bird

The grey-throated sunbird is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in a wide range of semi-open wooded habitats in the northern and eastern part of the Philippines. It is often considered a subspecies of the brown-throated sunbird, but the two differ consistently in measurements and plumage, and there is no evidence of intergradation between them.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mindoro racket-tail</span> Species of bird

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.

The short-tailed drongo is a species of passerine bird in the family Dicruridae. It is endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests.

References

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2016). "Prioniturus discurus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22727871A94964152. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22727871A94964152.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. "Blue-crowned Racquet-tail - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  3. Collar, Nigel; Kirwan, Guy M. (2020-03-04), Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.), "Blue-crowned Racquet-tail (Prioniturus discurus)", Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, doi:10.2173/bow.bcrtai1.01 , retrieved 2024-09-09
  4. Collar, Nigel; Kirwan, Guy M. (2020-03-04), Billerman, Shawn M.; Keeney, Brooke K.; Rodewald, Paul G.; Schulenberg, Thomas S. (eds.), "Blue-crowned Racquet-tail (Prioniturus discurus)", Birds of the World, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, doi:10.2173/bow.bcrtai1.01 , retrieved 2024-09-09
  5. IUCN (2016-10-01). Prioniturus discurus: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22727871A94964152 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t22727871a94964152.en.