Great-billed Parrot Tanygnathus megalorynchos Scientific name definitions

33–43 cm. Enormous bill red ; head, nape and mantle bright green, shading to pale blue on back and rump and to yellowish on underparts , with yellow flanks, underwing-coverts and across undersides of flight-feathers; scapulars and lesser wing-coverts black, median wing-coverts black edged yellow; greater wing-coverts and secondaries green edged yellow; primaries blue; tail above green tipped yellow, below yellowish. Immature lacks black at shoulder. Nominate apparently has two types of variation, which has led to establishment of several supererogatory subspecies: in one, margins of flight-feathers are green instead of blue, (hence “viridipennis” of Tukangbesi, Madu and Kalaotoa Is, and “djampeae” of Tanahjampea and Kalao, all S of Sulawesi); in other, undersides somewhat greener (again in “djampeae” and in “floris” of Flores). Race <em>affinis</em> has bluish tinge to head, green scapulars, lesser wing-coverts greenish blue; <em>subaffinis</em> like <em>affinis</em> with rump very pale blue, underwing-coverts bluish; hellmayri like affinis but with yellowish green head, greener wing covert edges; <em>sumbensis</em> like nominate but head darker green, underparts greener, rump darker blue.

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Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Primary and secondary lowland evergreen forest, preferably with a rather open structure and with a scattering of large deciduous trees, but also Casuarina forest, mangroves, plantation edge and garden areas in lowlands. A small-island specialist, being confined on larger islands to coastal areas and adjacent foothills. Birds may go to roost in higher parts of islands, returning early each morning to lowlands.

Apparently often travels between adjacent small islands, but this is presumably generally only a very local phenomenon.

The fruit of Sonneratia alba reportedly much favoured, also Canarium vulgare and casuarinas; a green lemon-sized fruit reportedly important, the birds travelling from island to island in search of it. Apparently visits corn crops.

Quite vocal. Most calls involve repeated loud nasal squawks or screeches, e.g. “kee-aw…kee-aw..” or “krah…krah..”, but also gives complex modulated notes such as piercing whistles with a grating end.

Nest-sites apparently occupied, Aug–Sept; Aug–Sept on Sumba. Nest in hole in very tall deciduous tree. No information on clutch size, but one egg laid in captivity measured 38·8 mm × 28·4 mm (1 Harrison, C. J. O., and D. T. Holyoak (1970). Apparently undescribed parrot eggs in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History). Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 90(2):42–46. Close ).

Not globally threatened. CITES II. Seram may hold 100,000 birds, and the species is still in healthy numbers on Tanahjampea, Flores Sea; Buru has been reckoned to hold c. 7500 birds, but probable numbers now considered much higher. On Ambon (S Moluccas), found to be common in forested hills behind Hila on N coast of Hitu Peninsula, in 1995. However, only 1700 birds estimated to remain on Sumba, where the race sumbensis is endangered by habitat loss, and on Flores species has suffered a marked decline from the cagebird trade. The species was abundant on Balut and Sarangani in 1906 and was still common on the latter in 1978. Reported international trade, 1985–1990, averaged 1206 birds per year, but the EC prohibited importations in Sept 1991.