Blue-crowned racket-tail

The blue-crowned racket-tail (Prioniturus discurus) is a parrot found endemic to the Philippines. It is 27cm, basically green with a blue crown, bluish undertail, whitish beak, and dark underwings with green coverts. It was formerly conspecific with, Mindoro racket-tail and Blue-headed racket-tail

Blue-crowned racket-tail
An illustration by John Gould
ssp. whiteheadi
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittaculidae
Genus:	Prioniturus
Species:	P. discurus
Binomial name
Prioniturus discurus (Vieillot, 1822)

Description and taxonomy

EBird describes the bird as "A medium-sized parrot of forest from the lowlands to lower mountains. The two central tail feathers have extended shafts ending in a racket shape. Overall green in color, darker on the back and paler below, with deeper green on the head and a blue crown. Overlaps with Mindanao Racquet-tail, but has a brighter green back, lacks blue on the cheek, and is found at lower elevations. Voice consists of ringing metallic squawks that are similar to Green Racquet-tail’s, but more grating."

Formerly conspecific with, Mindoro racket-tail and Blue-headed racket-tail but was proven a distinct species by molecular studies and is differentiated by its call, amount and placement of blue on its head.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized:

• P. d.discurus – Found on Mindanao (and proximate islands), Jolo and Basilan; lores, cheeks, throat and breast pale olive-grey
• P. d. whiteheadi– Found South Luzon and Catanduanes, Tablas, Sibuyan, Masbate, Ticao, Panay, Guimaras, Negros, Cebu, Bohol, Biliran, Samar and Leyte; has less extensive blue on crown

Races may represent two distinct species and further studies are needed to better understand its taxonomy especially the populations on Samar and Leyte which appears to be an intermediate form

Ecology and behavior

Diet is poorly documented but known to feed on bananas and figs. Forms small flocks of up to 12 birds. Breeding occurs in August to September. They are cavity nesters, using old woodpecker nests, and make nesting colonies in tall live trees. Clutch is typically three eggs.

A juvenile captive Blue-crowned racquet tail, likely from the illegal wildlife trade.

Habitat and conservation status

This species habitat is primary and secondary forest up to 1,750 but mostly below 1,500 as it is replaced by Montane racket-tail and Mindanao racket-tail there after. Also visits mangroves, orchards and feeds on banana plantation.

IUCN has assessed this bird as least-concern species with the population believed to be stable - making this the only racket-tail with this status. It appears to be much more tolerant to habitat loss and remains locally common. However, deforestation in the Philippines continues throughout the country due to slash and burn farming, mining, illegal logging and habitat conversion. This species is still trapped for the pet trade.

It is found in multiple protected areas such as Bicol Natural Park Pasonanca Natural Park, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape, Northern Negros Natural Park, Samar Island Natural Park but like all areas in the Philippines, protection is lax and deforestation continues despite this protection on paper.

References

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

External links

• Oriental Bird Images: Blue-crowned racquet-tail Archived 2013-11-03 at the Wayback Machine Selected photos