Maroon shining parrot facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maroon shining parrot
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittaculidae
Genus:	Prosopeia
Species:	P. tabuensis
Binomial name
Prosopeia tabuensis (Gmelin, JF, 1788)
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The maroon shining parrot or red shining-parrot (Prosopeia tabuensis) is a type of parrot. It belongs to the Psittaculidae family. This bird lives only on the islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni in Fiji. Long ago, people also brought it to the southern islands of Tonga. Some people think it's the same species as the crimson shining-parrot found in Kadavu. This parrot naturally lives in warm, wet lowland forests and mangrove forests.

About the Maroon Shining Parrot

The maroon shining parrot was officially named in 1788. A German scientist named Johann Friedrich Gmelin described it. He put it in the Psittacus group with other parrots. He gave it the scientific name Psittacus tabuensis. Gmelin used notes and drawings from an English bird expert, John Latham. Latham had described the "Tabuan parrot" in 1781.

Today, the maroon shining parrot is in a group called Prosopeia. A French scientist, Charles Lucien Bonaparte, created this group in 1854. The name Prosopeia comes from an old Greek word meaning "mask." The second part of its scientific name, tabuensis, comes from Tongatapu. This is the main island of Tonga.

There are two main types, or subspecies, of the maroon shining parrot:

• P. t. taviunensis (named by Layard in 1876): This type lives on Taveuni, Qamea, and Laucala islands in Fiji.
• P. t. tabuensis (named by Gmelin in 1788): This type lives on Vanua Levu, Kioa, Koro, and Gau in Fiji. It also lives on Eua island in Tonga.

What Does It Look Like?

Adult maroon shining parrots have different colored feathers. Their face is red and black. The rest of their head is brown-red, darker on the back of their cheeks. Their belly and chest are dark maroon. They have a dark blue band across their upper back. This band is clear on some birds, but very thin or missing on others.

Their upper body and tail are green. Some birds have maroon edges on the feathers near their tail. Their beak is grey-black. They have a dark grey ring around their eyes. Their eyes are orange or yellow.

The P. t. taviunensis type is a bit different. It does not have blue on the lower part of its neck. The area between its eyes and beak is not as black. Also, it has less red or maroon on its back feathers. This type is also smaller in size.

Sounds and Calls

The maroon shining parrot makes high-pitched nea-nea and arr sounds. It repeats these sounds in short bursts. It also makes other squawks and hoots. These parrots usually call at night. They also call when they return to their nests.

In Tonga, this parrot is called Koki. This name comes from the sound it makes. The bird was first brought to Tonga through trade a long time ago. Now, it is only found on the island of ʻEua.

Where They Live and Their Home

The maroon shining parrot lives in Fiji and Tonga. You can find them near forests or on islands like Kadavu and Ono. They often live in old forests. They also live in newer forests that have grown back. You can find them in forest valleys, where they lay eggs from June to January.

They also live in coconut farms, village gardens, and farmlands. Sometimes, they are found in mangrove swamps and scrubland. These parrots can be seen alone, in pairs, or in groups of up to 40 birds.

Eating Habits

The maroon shining parrot mostly eats seeds and fruits. They get these from different forest trees. They enjoy fruits from mango, guava, banana, and Papaya trees. They usually find food in the top parts of the trees.

Sometimes, they also eat insect larvae. They might even raid cornfields for corn and other crops. Their strong beak helps them hold onto branches. It also lets them bite into wood to find insects. They hold their food with their feet. This lets them use their beak to get more food.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Maroon shining parrots lay eggs during the cool, dry season. This usually happens from May to October. They build their nests in holes inside dead trees. They also use the stumps of palm trees. They line their nests with soft, rotten wood.

A female parrot usually lays two or three eggs. The eggs hatch in about 25 to 34 days. The baby chicks are fed three times a day. The amount of food they get depends on how old they are. Chicks are ready to leave the nest when they are about 7 to 9 weeks old.

In Human Care

It is rare to find red-shining parrots kept as pets. They are in danger of extinction. Because of this, only people with special training usually care for them. If they are needed for breeding, they can join special programs. These programs help increase their numbers.

These parrots are mostly quiet during the day. They tend to be more vocal in the evening. They can even learn to talk. They like to fly around in the evenings. They also enjoy bathing themselves.

These parrots need to live in warm places. They are used to warm weather. The best temperature for them is above 23 degrees Celsius (72 degrees Fahrenheit). If the temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit), it can be very bad for the bird. They are not good at living in cold places.