From Opus

Alternative name: Lesser Vasa Parrot

Photo by balticbird
Ampijoroa, Madagascar

Coracopsis nigra

[edit] Identification

• 35cm
• Black or dark brown
• Grey undertail covers
• Grey outer webs of primary feathers
• Tail dark brown or black, darker bands towards the tip
• Pink or white bill which turns grey after moult
• Dark brown eye has a bare grey eye ring

During breeding, the female may shed the feathers on her head giving it a yellowish tone.

Immatures - paler than adults with yellowish tinge on bill and pale grey tail feather tips.

[edit] Distribution

Found on Madagascar, the Comoro Islands and the Seychelles.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Subspecies^[1]

There are 4 subspecies:

• C. n. sibilans - paler brown, less black; grey on primaries absent. Bill brown/grey. Smaller in size.

• Comoro Islands (Grand Comoro and Anjouan)

• C. n. libs - paler in colour; underparts more brown; upperparts tinged with blue/grey; no dark band on tail.

  Drier areas of western Madagascar

• C. n. nigra:

• Forests of eastern Madagascar

• C. n. barklyi - similar to siblans, but grey/blue reflections on outer webs of primary feathers; pale brown patches on crown

• Seychelles (Praslin and Curieuse)

[edit] Habitat

Mangrove swamps and evergreen forests.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

The diet includes seeds, blossoms and fruit - especially berries and mangos.

[edit] Breeding

Nests are built in hollow trees.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist.
2. World Parrot Trust

• List of references

[edit] External Links