Horned Parakeet

Horned parakeet ( Eunymphicus cornutus )

The Horned parakeet ( Eunymphicus cornutus ) is a species of parrot in the genus of the Parakeets Horn ( Eunymphicus ). There are two recognized subspecies.

Features

The Horned parakeet reaches a length of 32 centimeters and weighs between 100 and 150 grams. Its plumage is mainly light green, interspersed with yellow-green spots. The forehead and the top of the head are red, the there -faceted feather crest is black and has red ends. The face is black to black and green, so that contrasts the eye with its red iris. Behind the eye to the neck plumage is yellow. The non- erectile crest consists of four clearly -spaced springs. The outer webs of primaries are blue, the inner webs black. The coverts are like the vast Körperbefiederung green. The tail feathers are blue - green. Legs and feet are gray. The beak is light gray and dark gray to the edges and towards the tip to the base.

Males are significantly larger than females, as well as her beak is larger.

The call of the horn parakeet is described as kho - khoot. The parakeets keep quiet if they are staying in the treetops. However, during flight over an open space, they can be extremely noisy. Their flight is undulating.

Subspecies

There are two recognized subspecies:

• Cornutus cornutus Eunymphicus is the nominate form.
• The Ouveasittich ( Eunymphicus cornutus uvaeensis EL & ELC Layard, 1882) is found only on the island of Ouvea. For him, only the front shows red, adjacent springs. The spring comb consists of dark green feathers and the mind has no yellow coloration. It has a dark green mask which distinguishes it sharply back to the cheeks of the bright green plumage, but color fades to the occiput and neck plumage in light green.

Behavior

Horn parakeets live in pairs or in small groups. This has been increasingly observed in the months of April to June. In search of food, which consists mainly of seeds and nuts, the animals keep on top of trees. To receive the food that is held with one foot and then processed with the beak. It is believed that Horn parakeets hike in the Australian winter is from June to September, their foraging in groups through different habitats. Here, the group but does not split into smaller groups. Horn parakeets also occur up in rural settlements and open spaces.

Reproduction

The breeding season of the Horn parakeets takes from August to January. The nests under rocks and fallen tree trunks are created near the ground. In addition, it has recently been discovered to build nests in tree hollows. It does not occur on territoriality during the breeding or it is very weak. The nest consists of two to four, usually three eggs, which are incubated for about 21 days. During the breeding only the female sits on the nest and leaves it short only on dietary intake, when it calls the male which feeds them. This can be a day between four and six times the case.

The young hatch within 48 hours. They are the slip blind, have a white fuzz and weigh between five and six grams. They are fed by both parents. After 10 to 15 days they open their eyes. Until then, give them a denser gray fuzz has grown. Within three weeks, the wing and tail feathers are grown and within six weeks, the Körperbefiederung is complete. At this point the beak of the comb is still yellow, red. The beak changes color within the next three to six months gradually gray and the plumage is similar to the adult animals. The survival rate of the young animals after 30 days is 50 percent. Sexual maturity attain female parakeets horn at the age of two years, males at the age of three years.

Second broods are possible, seemingly dependent on the success of the first brood. However, a large proportion of the adult horn parakeets not be reproduced.

Theuerkauf et. al. (2009) were able to prove Cooperative breeding by films at two nests over five years at Horn parakeets in the wild, with two differently sized males living together with a female and both males fed the nestlings and the female.

Distribution and habitat

The Horned parakeet is endemic to New Caledonia. There he is uneven in damp woods to find savannahs and scrubland. Its distribution extends from valleys up to altitudes of 1500 meters above sea level.

Inventory and risk

The IUCN classifies the Horned parakeet since 2009 as endangered ( vulnerable ). From 2000 to 2008 he was listed as endangered ( endangered ). In re- counts of the Institute Agronomique neo Caledonia (IAC ) in the years 2003-2006 is presented, however, a population of more than 2500 mature individuals determined, including about 720 pairs. However, since the total population is declining, probably due to habitat destruction, the type continues to be a risk. On the Mont Panié the Horned parakeet is already locally extinct. The threat to the Horn parakeet is hampered by the destruction of its habitat caused by deforestation, and by introduced deer, but also by newly introduced mammals such as rats, which plunder the nests. Less well documented is the exposure to catch the attitude, but it does not seem to threatening role. However, there are occasional illegal hunting of these animals. A study undertaken in the framework of a well -funded fund for endangered parrots since 1994 Project Coming in 2010 to slightly different estimates. In addition to forest destruction are introduced bees and the taking of young birds from the nests and, potentially called by introduced predators as a threat causes. The population had a positive development of an estimated 617 birds in 1993 to 2,090 birds in 2009, as the local population as a protective measure stopped the removal of young birds. As a further measure is recommended to prevent potential introduction of rats.

Attitude

The Horned parakeet is comparatively rarely held an offspring in captivity succeeded first time in 1994 at Loro Parque in Tenerife.