Luzon Racquet-tail Prioniturus montanus Scientific name definitions

30 cm; 102–142 g. Bill pale greyish; dull green on upperparts, yellowish green below; forehead and face blue shading to green on lower cheeks and rear ear-coverts; mid-crown red; tail spatules blackish. Female has entire head green but for blue tinges and has shorter spatules (1 Juniper, T., and M. Parr (1998). Parrots: A Guide to the Parrots of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ). Immature like female without spatules, but has narrow feathered extensions (1 Juniper, T., and M. Parr (1998). Parrots: A Guide to the Parrots of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ). Sympatric with P. luconensis and P. discurus, but first-named has blue crown in both sexes, without red crown patch in male, while last-named is now rare and usually found below elevational range of present species, is uniform pale yellow-green, yellower around face, and has blue uppertail (1 Juniper, T., and M. Parr (1998). Parrots: A Guide to the Parrots of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ).

Mountains of Luzon (N Philippines).

Primary montane forest above 700 m to as high as 2900 m (1 Juniper, T., and M. Parr (1998). Parrots: A Guide to the Parrots of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ).

Partial displacements from the highlands may occur with some regularity.

Fruits of a fine-leafed tree growing low inside forest appears to be the only specific record, but seeds, nuts, berries and fruits all mentioned in diet (1 Juniper, T., and M. Parr (1998). Parrots: A Guide to the Parrots of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ). Some visits cultivation in company with P. luconensis (1 Juniper, T., and M. Parr (1998). Parrots: A Guide to the Parrots of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ).

Gives shrill screeching notes (1 Juniper, T., and M. Parr (1998). Parrots: A Guide to the Parrots of the World. Pica Press, Robertsbridge, UK. Close ).

Aug–Sept; but juvenile collected Jul. Nest recorded 5–6 m up in tall oak (Quercus) stub.

Not globally threatened. Currently regarded as Near Threatened. Previously regarded as Vulnerable. CITES II. Restricted-range species. Population estimated at between 1500 and 7000 mature individuals within overall range of 10,400 km². Although common in both the Cordillera Central and the Sierra Madre, the combination of habitat loss, hunting and trapping for the cagebird trade is predicted to inflict serious damage on populations.