Blue-crowned Racquet-tail

Prioniturus discurus

27 cm. long, 24 without snowshoes, and a weight between 140 and 160 g.

The head of the Blue-crowned Racquet-tail (Prioniturus discurus) bright green is strongly imbued with bright blue in the crown and brighter green in checks and lores.

Upperparts green. Wings green, darker in the vane inmates of the flight feather, with a narrow pale margin along the innermost edge; primary external greenish blue. Wing feathers green, underside of flight feather bluish green. The underparts yellowish-green illuminated. Upper, the lateral feathers of the tail green, Basal Blue with black tips; undertail, the tail strongly impregnated with blue; Blackish spatulas.

Bill whitish; irises dark brown; legs grey.

The female similar to the male but with the the tail rackets shorter.

Young with less blue in the crown and the absence of the rackets.

• Sound of the Blue-crowned Racquet-tail.

• Prioniturus discurus discurus

  (Vieillot, 1822) – The nominal

• Prioniturus Discurus Whiteheadi

  (Salomonsen, 1953) – Has less blue on the Crown and in the center of this is not clearly defined and merges gradually with the rest of the green of the head.

– Prioniturus discurus and Prioniturus mindorensis (Pit and necklace 2014) they were grouped previously as Prioniturus discurus

– Previously included the Blue-headed Racquet-tail (Prioniturus platenae) in this species.

Rainforests, mangroves, plantations, crops in the lowlands and mountains to 1.750 meters above sea level. Seen flying above the canopy in small noisy groups of five to twelve birds outside of breeding season. Groups gather to feed in fruit trees, including banana.

breeding season from April to may in Blacks, During may in Leyte and during April in Mindanao.

The diet includes fruits, berries, nuts and seeds.

Residents of most of the islands of the Philippines, including Luzon, Catanduanes, Masbate, Mindoro, Guimaras, Blacks, Tables, Sibuyan, Cebu, Samar, Leyte, Bohol, Mindanao, Olutanga, Basilan and Jolo.

Subspecies distribution:

• Prioniturus discurus discurus

  – The nominal

• Prioniturus Discurus Whiteheadi

  – North of Philippines (Luzon, Catanduanes, Tables, Sibuyan, Ticao, Masbate, Biliran, Samar, Surigao del Sur, Guimaras, Negro, Cebu, Bohol, and Leyte)

• Current category of the Red List of the UICN: Least concern

• Population trend: Stable

The size of the world population It has not been quantified, is estimated at less of 10.000 specimens. The species according to information, it is generally common even in degraded habitats on heavily deforested islands (pit et to the. 1997).

The population is suspected that it may be in decline due to the capture and loss of habitat.

Unknown in captivity.

– Blue-crowned Racquet-tail, Blue-crowned Racket-tail (ingles).
– Palette à couronne bleue (French).
– Philippinen-Spatelschwanzpapagei (German).
– Prioniturus discurus (Portuguese).
– Lorito momoto coroniazul, Lorito-momoto Coroniazul (español).

– Order: Psittaciformes
– Family: Psittaculidae
– Genus: Prioniturus
– Scientific name: Prioniturus discurus
– Citation: (Vieillot, 1822)
– Protonimo: parrot discurus

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“Blue-crowned Racquet-tail” (Prioniturus discurus)

Sources:

– Sounds: Frank Lambert (Xeno-canto)