Colourization Adult: C.p. placentis: male-green/yellow forecrown; rump has dark blue patch; dull red lores, cheeks and upper throat; purple/blue ear coverts with pale blue streaking; red underwing coverts to sides of breast and reaching to flanks; yellow band under the wings; green tail tipped with yellow, the centre tail feathers red toward tips; lateral tail feathers have red at base. Bill red. Eye yellow. Female-darker green forecrown; red markings instead green; dull blue/black ear coverts with strong yellow streaks; rump has dark blue patch. C.p. intensior: both adults blue patch on rump smaller. C.p. ornata: both adults blue patch on rump larger; male the red of upper throat extends to lower. C.p. subplacens: both adults as in placentis, but blue on rump absent. C.p. pallidior: both adults as in subplacens, but in general plumage paler, especially the blue ear coverts of the male. Colourization Juvenile: C.p. placentis: as in adult female but males have some red on lores and green/yellow on forecrown. Bill brown. Eye yellow/brown. Call: Calls are described as shrill and high-pitched staccato notes. Also described as harsh.
Not Threatened.
Colourization Adult: C.p. placentis: male-green/yellow forecrown; rump has dark blue patch; dull red lores, cheeks and upper throat; purple/blue ear coverts with pale blue streaking; red underwing coverts to sides of breast and reaching to flanks; yellow band under the wings; green tail tipped with yellow, the centre tail feathers red toward tips; lateral tail feathers have red at base. Bill red. Eye yellow. Female-darker green forecrown; red markings instead green; dull blue/black ear coverts with strong yellow streaks; rump has dark blue patch. C.p. intensior: both adults blue patch on rump smaller. C.p. ornata: both adults blue patch on rump larger; male the red of upper throat extends to lower. C.p. subplacens: both adults as in placentis, but blue on rump absent. C.p. pallidior: both adults as in subplacens, but in general plumage paler, especially the blue ear coverts of the male. Colourization Juvenile: C.p. placentis: as in adult female but males have some red on lores and green/yellow on forecrown. Bill brown. Eye yellow/brown. Call: Calls are described as shrill and high-pitched staccato notes. Also described as harsh.
17 cm, 38-48 g
Taxonomy:
- Psittacus placentis Temminck, 1834, Utanata River, New Guinea. Proposed race occidentalis included in nominate. Five subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * intensior (Kinnear, 1928) - N Moluccas and Gebe (W Papuan Is). * placentis (Temminck, 1834) - S Moluccas and Aru Is, and through S New Guinea to Gulf of Papua. * ornata Mayr, 1940 - W Papuan Is except Gebe, and N side of W Irian Jaya. * subplacens (P. L. Sclater, 1876) - NC New Guinea eastwards. * pallidior (Rothschild & Hartert, 1905) - Bismarck Archipielago to Bougainville.
Found up to 1400m in humid primary forest, forest edge, savanna, tall secondary growth, monsoon forest, sago swamps, gallery forest, eucalyptus, coastal forest and mangrove. and coconut groves.
Feeds on pollen, nectar, flowers and seeds.
2 rounded eggs, 19.0 x 17.5mm, February-October. Seen in pairs and occasionally groups of 25 or more. Groups of birds forage in flowering trees and epiphytes. Can be quiet and unobtrusive and difficult to see in foliage. Noisy and active while feeding.