Large Fig-Parrot Psittaculirostris desmarestii Scientific name definitions

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Large Fig-Parrot (Large)

18–19 cm; 108–126 g. Small, stocky, large-headed parrot, with a short spiky tail, only likely to be confused with <em>Cyclopsitta</em> <em>diophthalma</em> , but latter is smaller, lacks any breastband and has different face pattern. Forehead red shading to orange on crown and nape; lores to below eye blue  ; face light green bordered by light blue breastband and broken orange-brown band; underparts yellowish green; back , wings and tail dull green, with innermost tertials edged orange; underwing bar pale yellow. Bare parts: bill black, iris dark brown, and legs and feet grey-green. Sexes alike. Immature has crown dull yellow. Race intermedia has more orange crown, cheeks and ear-coverts also have some orange feathers, while blue hindcollar is indistinct or absent; oc­cidentalis  deep yellow face and upper ear-coverts are elongated and deep golden-yellow, lacks blue hindcollar, rear crown is more yellowish and blue below eye is paler than in nominate; and blythii like occidentalis but face is brighter orange with no blue, except immatures, which possess the blue spot below the eye of other races in adult plumage.

Large Fig-Parrot (Yellow-naped)

18–19 cm. Small, stocky, large-headed parrot, with a short spiky tail. Previously considered to be conspecific with <em>P. desmarestii</em> (see Taxonomy comments), but unlike latter and P. cervicalis (also formerly treated as part of same species), P. godmani is sexually dimorphic, males having a yellow hindcollar (green in female). Differs from P. desmarestii in lack of blue below eye (a feature shared with P. cervicalis), brilliant golden-yellow ear-coverts and face, brighter scarlet forecrown, broader blue breastband (extending to flanks) with no or only very slight reddish band below this, and separated from P. cervicalis in lack of red face and blue on nape and hindcrown, and paler blue breastband. Immature has green crown (like P. cervicalis). Said to intergrade with P. cervicalis in Fly R region of SE New Guinea.

Large Fig-Parrot (Red-faced)

18–19 cm. Small, stocky, large-headed parrot, with a short spiky tail, only likely to be confused with P. godmani in contact zone in CS New Guinea or with <em>Cyclopsitta</em> <em>diophthalma</em> in far E Papua New Guinea, but latter is smaller, lacks any breastband and has different face pattern. Superficially also similar to male <em>Geoffroyus geoffroyi</em> , but latter has bright red bill, among other differences. Previously considered to be conspecific with <em>P. desmarestii</em> (see Taxonomy comments), but entire head appears to be orange-red, with some yellow on throat and rear ear-coverts, lacks any blue below eye (like P. godmani), but has broad blue hindcollar and darker blue breastband than other taxa within this complex, it being suffused dull reddish brown, and some slight orange suffusion on rear underparts. Immature has green crown. Said to intergrade with P. godmani in Fly R region of SE New Guinea.

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Large Fig-Parrot (Large)

Large Fig-Parrot (Yellow-naped)

Large Fig-Parrot (Red-faced)

Large Fig-Parrot (Yellow-naped)

SW & SC New Guinea E to Fly R.

Large Fig-Parrot (Red-faced)

Fly R E to extreme E New Guinea.

Large Fig-Parrot (Large)

Large Fig-Parrot (Yellow-naped)

Large Fig-Parrot (Red-faced)

Large Fig-Parrot (Large)

Large Fig-Parrot (Yellow-naped)

Large Fig-Parrot (Red-faced)

Large Fig-Parrot (Large)

Seeds of figs and partial consumption of hard pericarp of fig noted; and use of a fig species in which the fruit grows in clusters from the trunk. Forages in small groups of 2–6 birds, usually in the canopy.

Large Fig-Parrot (Yellow-naped)

Large Fig-Parrot (Red-faced)

Large Fig-Parrot (Large)

Most distinctive is a thin, high-pitched downslur in flight, but also gives a sharp broken note, chattering and clicking calls, as well as a continually repeated “chet-chet” around nest-site. Most calls  are said to be louder than those of smaller lorikeets and fig-parrots, but less strident than those of Geoffroyus geoffroyi or Trchoglossus haematodus.

Large Fig-Parrot (Yellow-naped)

No known differences between this species  and P. desmarestii  , but poorly studied.

Large Fig-Parrot (Red-faced)

Large Fig-Parrot (Large)

Large Fig-Parrot (Yellow-naped)

Large Fig-Parrot (Red-faced)

Large Fig-Parrot (Large)

Large Fig-Parrot (Yellow-naped)

Large Fig-Parrot (Red-faced)