Vernal Hanging-Parrot Loriculus vernalis Scientific name definitions

13–15 cm; 35·7 g (captive female). Bill orangish red; plumage generally green , with yellower tone to underparts; pale blue patch on throat; rump and uppertail-coverts red; underside of flight-feathers and tail blue; legs orange. Female paler, with blue on throat reduced or lacking. Immature has dull greyish wash on face and cheeks, rump with green feathers.

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SW, S & E India and E Nepal through S China and SE Asia to Indochina, except Malay Peninsula; Andamans, Nicobars and Mergui Archipelago.

Evergreen forest , moist and dry deciduous woodlands, secondary growth, abandoned cultivated land, bamboo thickets, forest edge, orchards, tall scrub and beach-strand woodland particularly with mature casuarinas; up to 1800 m in Nilgiris.

In India subject to poorly understood local migrations, being a rains visitor in certain parts and a winter visitor in others.

Soft pulp of fruits and berries, chiefly figs (Ficus), largely supplemented by flower nectar, notably Erythrina, eucalypts, mistletoes and Salmalia malabarica; also seeds of Casuarina, Tectona grandis and bamboo . Can damage local crops of guavas (Psidium) and loquats (Eriobotrya japonica).

Commonest vocalizations are a high-pitched buzzy doubled “tzeet…tzeet” and a fast triple-noted “tzee-zee-zeet”. When perched, utters similar-sounding twitters and short squeaky warbles. Also high-pitched “see” notes and combinations thereof.

Jan–Apr; in Andamans chiefly Jan–Feb. Nest in natural hollow in rotten tree stem or branch. Eggs 2–4; in captivity, incubation lasts 22 days, nestling period around 5 weeks.

Not globally threatened. CITES II. Very common on Andaman and Nicobar Is, reasonably so in S Thailand (common in Khao Yai National Park in NC). Common in Cambodia, around 1930. Extremely rare in China.