Blue-backed parrot

The blue-backed parrot (Tanygnathus sumatranus) is also known as Müller's (or Mueller's) parrot, or azure-rumped parrot. This parrot is endemic to the Philippines and to Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia. It is found in forest and nearby habitats, including cultivated areas, at altitudes up to 800 meters. Flocks are small and often active at night. It is known to eat crops, including corn.

Blue-backed parrot
Male
Female in captivity

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Genus: Tanygnathus
Species:
T. sumatranus
Binomial name
Tanygnathus sumatranus
(Raffles, 1822)

Description

It is of medium size (32 cm), basically green with yellowish edging to the wings, a blue rump, and blue wing bends. The head, mantle, wings and tail are darker green, the belly and collar are lighter green. It is sexually dimorphic, with the male having a red beak and the female a pale yellow or horn colored beak. There are six subspecies:

  • T. s. sumatranus: Sulawesi and nearby islands. Yellow iris.
  • T. s. sangirensis: Sangir Islands and Karakelong. More blue on wing bends and wing coverts, head darker green. Yellow iris.
  • T. s. burbidgii: Sulu Islands. Darker green with lighter collar. Red iris.
  • T. s. everetti: Panay, Negros, Leyte, Samar, Mindanao. Mantle and back darker, rump and head lighter. Some blue in mantle. Red iris.
  • T. s. duponti: Luzon. Dark green with yellow collar. Yellowish underwing coverts. Iris red.
  • T. s. freeri: Polillo Islands. More uniform color with less contrast, more yellow on nape. Iris red.
  • Illustrations
  • T. s. everetti
  • T. s. burbidgii

References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Tanygnathus sumatranus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Juniper & Parr (1998) Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World; ISBN 0-300-07453-0.
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