Description
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Distribution
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Western Africa: patchy Liberia - Ghana (fantiensis);
Central Africa: S Cameroon - N Angola, N DR Congo (gulielmi);
Eastern Africa: SW Kenya, Crater Highlands of N Tanzania (massaicus).
Habitat
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Forests, coffee plantations
Movements and dispersal
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Lifespan, longevity, and ageing
provided by AnAge articles
Maximum longevity: 21 years (captivity)
Observations: One specimen was still alive after 21 years in captivity (Brouwer et al. 2000).
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- Joao Pedro de Magalhaes
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- de Magalhaes, J. P.
Biology
provided by Arkive
Red-fronted parrots are generally found in groups of up to ten birds, though larger flocks may form at feeding and roosting sites. The diet consists of a variety of seeds, fruits, flowers and insects, and includes the fruits of the oil palm, Elaeis guineensis (2) (3) (5), and in some areas the red-fronted parrot may make lengthy daily foraging trips of up to 60 kilometres (3) (5).
The red-fronted parrot nests between November and January in Tanzania, March and November in Kenya, and around September in the Congo Basin (3). Nests are usually located in tree cavities, up to 12 metres above the ground (2) (5). Between 2 and 4 glossy white eggs are laid, and hatch after an incubation period of around 28 days, the young parrots fledging 10 to 11 weeks later. Red-fronted parrots have been known to live up to 30 years in captivity (2) (3) (5).
Conservation
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The red-fronted parrot is found in several protected areas, including Lopé-Okanda National Park in Gabon, a World Heritage Site (9), and in Korup National Park in Cameroon and Bia National Park in Ghana (2) (5). The species is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), meaning that international trade in red-fronted parrots should be carefully controlled (4). However, a key problem in many areas is the lack of appropriate legislation, and the lack of enforcement of legislation where it does exist (8). Wild trade in this bird and destruction of its forest habitat may need better monitoring to ensure that red-fronted parrot populations do not suffer future declines.
Description
provided by Arkive
Distinctive red markings on the forehead, thighs and leading edge of the wings give this fairly large and stocky, but nonetheless attractive, parrot its common name. The rest of the body is largely green, although the flight feathers and short, squarish tail are brownish black and the feathers of the back and wings are dark, with greenish edges, giving a scalloped appearance (2) (5). The face and chin are also slightly darker, but the rump and uppertail-coverts are a lighter yellowish-green. The upper mandible of the beak is grey, tipped black, and the lower mandible is black. The legs are dark grey to black, and the eye is surrounded by a bare ring of pinkish-white skin (3) (5). Both sexes are similar in appearance (5), though females may have an orange-brown, rather than a reddish-orange, iris (2). Juveniles are paler in colour and lack the distinctive red markings of the adult (2) (5). Red-fronted parrots are fairly noisy birds, emitting high-pitched, harsh calls in flight and while perched. Quieter whistling calls are used when feeding, and individuals kept as pets may learn to mimic (3) (5).
Three subspecies of red-fronted parrot are recognised: Poicephalus gulielmi gulielmi, Poicephalus gulielmi fantiensis and Poicephalus gulielmi massaicus. P. g. fantiensis is slightly smaller than P. g. gulielmi, with orange rather than red markings, and sometimes paler green underparts, while P. g. massaicus is paler green with a smaller beak, and red markings that are restricted to the forehead (2) (3) (5).
Habitat
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Lowland rainforest, and primary montane forest in Kenya and Tanzania, up to an altitude of 3,250 metres. Red-fronted parrots are also found in secondary forest and in coffee plantations in some areas (2) (3) (5).
Range
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The red-fronted parrot appears to have several distinct distributions (5). P. g. fantiensis occurs from Liberia east to Ghana, P. g. gulielmi from southeast Nigeria and southern Cameroon, south to Cabinda (northern Angola) and east to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, and P. g. massaicus in the highlands of parts of Kenya and Tanzania (2) (3) (5).
Status
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Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1) and listed on Appendix II of CITES (4).
Threats
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Keeping the red-fronted parrot as a pet has steadily risen in popularity in recent years (6), and as a result the species has been heavily traded on the wild bird market (3) (7). Trapping for this trade may pose a significant threat to the species (8), particularly the population around Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, where it could lead to local extinction. The red-fronted parrot is also at risk from deforestation in parts of its range (2) (5). However, the species still occurs over a wide area and is not currently considered globally threatened, although global population trends have yet to be quantified (7).
Red-fronted parrot
provided by wikipedia EN
The red-fronted parrot (Poicephalus gulielmi), also known as Jardine's parrot, is a medium-sized mainly green parrot distributed across wide areas of Africa. It has three subspecies. The extent and shade of the red or orange plumage on its head, thighs, and bend of wings vary depending on the subspecies.
They are popular as pets, partly because of their ability to mimic speech and copy sounds. Trapping of wild birds for the pet trade is a potential threat to wild populations; however, they are protected by CITES (appendix II) making the trade, import and export of all wild-caught parrots illegal.
Description
Juvenile with a little orange patch starting to form on its forehead
The red-fronted parrot is 28 cm (11 in) long. It is mostly green and has a short black squarish tail. Black feathers on the head, neck, back, and wings have lighter green edges giving a scalloped appearance. The lower mandible is dark grey and the upper mandible has a horn coloured base and a dark grey tip. The irises are red-orange, the eyerings are pinkish-grey, and the legs are grey-brown. The amount of red or orange on the forecrown, the bend of the wing, and thighs varies in the three subspecies but is absent in all young birds – juveniles having a dark smokey appearance above a paler beak and brown irises. The adult male and female are identical in external appearance.[2] Gender determination of chicks is normally carried out by breeders using DNA analysis of a feather sample or by internal examination of the cloaca. This latter method is cheaper and quicker but does cause some distress to the bird.
Taxonomy
The first red-fronted parrot to be scientifically identified was named Congo Jack. The parrot was brought back live from the Congo to the United Kingdom by Sir William Jardine's son on his return from a three-year cruise on HMS Favourite. Congo Jack became tame and whistled and screamed, rather than talk. Sir William Jardine gave the species the binomial name Pionus Gulielmi after his son, William R.N. (Latin: Gulielmi means "William's"), and published the description in 1849.[3][4][5]
Three subspecies are now recognized:[4]
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Poicephalus gulielmi, (Jardine 1849)
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P. g. gulielmi, (Jardine 1849) – orange-red on forehead to forecrown, wings, and thighs. Endemic to the Congo River basin. This subspecies has also been introduced to the island of Puerto Rico.[2]
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P. g. fantiensis, Neumann 1908 – the forecrown is orange and there is an orange-red or orange on the wings, slightly smaller. Distributed from Liberia to southern Ghana.[2]
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P. g. massaicus, Fischer & Reichenow 1884 – similar to P. gulielmi except on the head the orange-red is less extensive occurring on the forehead above the beak. Endemic to the highlands (1800 to 3500m) of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.[2]
Behaviour
P. g. gulielmi, adult leaving the nest box
Breeding
The red-fronted parrot nests in tree cavities. The eggs are white and there are usually three or four in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for about 27 days and the chicks leave the nest about 80 days after hatching.[6]
Feeding
They fly swiftly making noisy calls above the forest in pairs or small groups between their night-time roosts and feeding grounds. They feed quietly in the upper canopy of trees, where they are well camouflaged.[7]
Pets
Fledgling pet eating vegetables
Usually called Jardine's parrots, the red-fronted parrot is becoming an increasingly popular pet, owing to increased availability and a growing following. They are particularly playful, intelligent, and affectionate. Some speak very clearly, and imitate other birds expertly. Their size, temperament, and voice makes them good candidates for apartment dwellers, though they can give a shrill call. Captive bred birds have an endearing nature, bonding well, usually imperceptibly or only slightly favouring one member of the family more than others. They are not as "needy" as some companion species and so long as they are occupied, can be left alone for longer periods without emotional stress (allowing the owners to work for example).[8]
Conservation status
The wild red-fronted parrot population in Africa is difficult to estimate, because of its vast range.[1] They are potentially threatened by trapping of wild parrots for the pet trade;[9] They are listed on appendix II of The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), along with almost all other parrot species.[10] This has made the trade, import and export of all wild caught parrots illegal.[11]
References
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- Wikipedia authors and editors
Red-fronted parrot: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
The red-fronted parrot (Poicephalus gulielmi), also known as Jardine's parrot, is a medium-sized mainly green parrot distributed across wide areas of Africa. It has three subspecies. The extent and shade of the red or orange plumage on its head, thighs, and bend of wings vary depending on the subspecies.
They are popular as pets, partly because of their ability to mimic speech and copy sounds. Trapping of wild birds for the pet trade is a potential threat to wild populations; however, they are protected by CITES (appendix II) making the trade, import and export of all wild-caught parrots illegal.
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