Painted tiger parrot

Painted tiger parrot
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittaculidae
Genus:	Psittacella
Species:	P. picta
Binomial name
Psittacella picta Rothschild, 1896

The painted tiger parrot (Psittacella picta) is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is mainly found in Papua New Guinea.

Description

The painted tiger parrot has green wings and tail, red cap, yellow eye, red rump and tiger stripes on its back and belly.

Distribution & population

The total population of the painted tiger parrot is unknown, but wildlife surveys indicate that the population is stable and locally common. It is found throughout much of the Bismarck Range and Owen Stanley Range in the provinces of Western Province, Hela Province, Enga Province, Southern Highlands Province, Western Highlands Province, Chimbu Province, Eastern Highlands Province, Morobe Province, Central Province, Oro Province, and Milne Bay Province.^[2]

Ecology

The painted tiger parrot occurs in montane and subalpine forests and shrub at elevations of 2,400-4,000 m. Often, this species is seen in cautiously feeding in low bushes, eating a variety of seeds, berries, and small fruits of dacrydium conifers. It is also known to feed alongside Madarasz's tiger parrot. When startled, it flies into the canopy. This species is usually seen in pairs of groups of up to six birds.^[3]

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Psittacella picta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T45419833A95148679. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T45419833A95148679.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
2. "Painted Tiger-parrot (Psittacella picta) - BirdLife species factsheet". datazone.birdlife.org. Retrieved 2017-03-23.
3. Trust, World Parrot. "Painted Tiger Parrot (Psittacella picta) | Parrot Encyclopedia". www.parrots.org. Retrieved 2017-03-27.