Brehm's tiger parrot

Brehm's tiger parrot (Psittacella brehmii), also known as Brehm's ground parrot, is a small mainly green parrot found in the highlands of New Guinea, from 1,500-2,600m (extremes 1,100-3,800m). The species is named after Alfred Brehm (1829–1884), a German traveller and collector.^[2]

Brehm's tiger parrot
Male in Papua New Guinea
Female in Papua New Guinea
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittaculidae
Genus:	Psittacella
Species:	P. brehmii
Binomial name
Psittacella brehmii Schlegel, 1871

Taxonomy

There are four subspecies occurring in three distinct populations:

• P. b. brehmii: Bird's Head Peninsula, West Papua.
• P. b. intermixta: Central highlands of New Guinea. Underparts and barring on back more yellowish-green. Larger.
• P. b. pallida: SE highlands of New Guinea. Like nominate but narrower bill.
• P. b. harterti: Huon Peninsula (NE New Guinea). Paler head, less yellowish-green. Smaller.

In Brehm's central range the Painted Tiger parrot, P. picta, takes over above 2700m, but that species is not found in the Huon range, where Brehm's ranges higher. They are found singly or in small groups and feed on seeds and berries in the sub-canopy or near ground level.

Description

Brehm's tiger parrot is the largest species in the genus Psittacella and is about 24 cm (9.4 in) in length and weighs between 94 and 120 g (3.3 and 4.2 oz).^[3] It is mainly green with a dull olive-brown head, transverse yellow and black bars on the back and rump, and red undertail coverts. Its irises are red, and its beak is blueish-grey fading to white at the tip. Its legs are grey. The male has a yellow stripe on the sides of its neck and a green breast without barring. Females lack the yellow stripe on the neck and have a yellow and black striped breast. Juveniles resemble females,^[4] but have yellowish-brown irises and a more faded green and pale-yellow barring on the breast. These quite parrots are once in a while found in aviculture and there have been no recorded reproducing successes. They are extremely susceptible; once in a while enduring more than 2 to 3 months in captivity. Minimum aviary measurements: 2.5 x 1 x 2 m (8 x 3 x 6 ft). Temperature ought to be controlled within the range of  their normal natural surroundings (not very high, not very low).^[5]

References

1. BirdLife International (2016). "Psittacella brehmii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22684925A93051423. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22684925A93051423.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
2. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael (2004). Who's Bird Common Bird Names and People. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-300-10359-5.
3. Collar N (1997). "Family Psittacidae (Parrots)". In del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 4; Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-22-9.
4. Forshaw (2006). plate 64.
5. "bhrehmsparrot". www.beautyofbirds.com. Retrieved 2020-10-17.

• Juniper & Parr (1998) Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World; ISBN 0-300-07453-0.

Cited texts

• Forshaw, Joseph M. (2006). Parrots of the World; an Identification Guide. Illustrated by Frank Knight. Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-09251-6.