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Call: Dracula parrot (Psittrichas fulgidus
Where it lives: New Guinea
What it consumes: Figs, flowers and nectar
Why it’s amazing: The Pesquet’s parrot is more notoriously referred to as the Dracula parrot– and with its mix of jet-black and blood-red plumes, it’s simple to see why. They likewise sound frightening, as their piercing screams echo through the rain forests of New Guinea.
Dracula parrots grow to around 18 inches (46 centimeters) long and weigh in between 1.3 and 1.8 pounds (600 and 800 grams). They can live for around 20 to 40 years. Their plumage is mainly black and dark grey, however they sport red plumes around the stomach, tail and wings. Men have red spots behind their eyes, which identifies them from women.
The types’ guttural, rasping screams are extremely unique. Unlike the chirps or squawks of common parrots, the call of the Dracula parrot is a severe screech that sounds more like a legendary predator than a fruit-eating bird. This uncommon noise most likely developed as a method for the birds to interact throughout the thick forests of New Guinea, and perhaps to discourage prospective dangers.
Related: Terrific potoo: The ‘tree stump’ bird with a haunting roar and can see with its eyes closed
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Dracula parrots frequently make the uncommon sounds throughout flightThis might be to assist people remain in contact with their flock mates on the wing, particularly in locations with thick foliage, where the birds can quickly forget one another. Their screams might likewise act as territorial indications or alerting calls that inform other animals to their existence or assert supremacy over feeding locations.
With their long, connected beaks and semi-bald heads, Dracula parrots look like vultures. Unlike the meat-eating birds of victim, the parrots aren’t as savage as their label recommends. Rather, they’re eager fruit-eaters with a specific taste for figs and, periodically, flowers or nectar. The birds do not have plumes on their faces, and this localized baldness is believed to assist avoid matting when they’re consuming unpleasant fruits.
Little is understood about the breeding practices of Dracula parrots, it’s believed that they nest in big, hollow trees. They normally mate as soon as a year and lay a couple of eggs at a time.
Since of their extremely valued plumes and the marketplace for captive unique birds, Dracula parrots have actually been hunted and are now classified as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
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