Parrot - Green Hanging

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Alternative Name

Red Billed Hanging Parrot Scientific Name: Loriculus exilis

Basic Info

By maturity, most Green Hanging Parrots grow to four inches (ten and a half centimeters) in length. Their plumage is predominantly green, with yellow hints on their under-parts. There is a long red patch on the throat, which is reduced or absent in female and juvenile Green Hanging Parrots. The upper tail coverts and the rump are also red. These areas often have a yellowish tint. The feathers of the neck are greenish blue, as are the under - wing feathers. The tops of the wings of Green Hanging Parrots are darker green. The tail shows a similar coloration to the wings, save for the outer feathers, which are tipped in a greenish yellow color. Green Hanging Parrots have red bills, tipped in yellow, and their feet are an orange yellow or flesh color. The irises of males are yellow, and the irises of females and juveniles are brown. Juvenile Green Hanging Parrots also have yellow brown bills.

Health

Usually, the aviary for a Green Hanging Parrot should be six by three by six feet (two by one by two meters). The temperature should never fall below 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius) during acclimation. Later, temperatures should remain above 68 degrees Fahrenheit (20 degrees Celsius). Green Hanging Parrots should be misted daily. Green Hanging Parrots should be provided with plenty of hiding places to reduce stress. They enjoy bark stripping, and willow or elder branches should be provided regularly. Green Hanging Parrots should be fed a nectar solution made from porridge, honey, and pollen. They should be allowed plenty of fresh fruit like figs, bananas, and soft pears. Lory food or porridge, sprouted oats and millet, and fresh branches in bloom should also be offered. Breeding There are no recoded captive breedings of Green Hanging Parrots. In the wild, these birds breed in February and August and make their nests in dead palm trees. Not much is known about wild breeding.

Habitat

Green Hanging Parrots prefer to remain in the tops of trees and are most commonly seen in forests or mangrove woods.

Behavior

Little is known about the beautiful and secretive Green Hanging Parrot. Difficult to keep in aviculture, these birds are a joy to those that are able to care for them. Green Hanging Parrots feed on flowers and sometimes nectar. They are nomadic, moving to areas where trees are flowering as this food comes in season. Usually they are seen alone or in small family groups. Some are seen in pairs. Occasionally they can be seen in more open areas, as long as there are plenty of trees in these areas to shelter the parrots. Green Hanging Parrots were not noticed widely by observers until about 1968. This is probably due to their secretive habits, quiet natures, and close semblance to the Sulawesi Hanging Parrot. They fly very quickly, and their call is a soft hissing noise. They are very quiet and docile in aviculture, where they are rare and considered rather difficult to care for.

Origin

Indonesia

History

The Green Hanging Parrot was first noted by Schlegel in 1866. These parrots are native to Sulawesi and the Celebes Islands in Indonesia. They are found in forests or wooded areas below 3,300 feet (1,100 meters) in altitude. Although Green Hanging Parrots are adored by many aviculturalists for their beauty and their quiet natures, they often die suddenly for no apparent cause and may be difficult to acclimate. They are not good beginners' birds.

Common Foods

N/A