Red-cheeked parrot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red-cheeked parrot |
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The red-cheeked parrot (Geoffroyus geoffroyi) is a bright green parrot. You can find it in countries like Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and even a small part of northern Queensland, Australia. This parrot has a strong body and a short tail.
There are 17 different types, or subspecies, of the red-cheeked parrot. Males and females look a bit different. The male has red cheeks and a purple-blue head. The female is usually duller with a brown head.
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About the Red-Cheeked Parrot
Scientists first described the red-cheeked parrot in 1811. A German naturalist named Johann Matthäus Bechstein gave it its first scientific name. This parrot belongs to a group of birds called Geoffroyus. There are three species in this group.
Different Types of Red-Cheeked Parrots
There are 17 recognized subspecies of the red-cheeked parrot. Each subspecies lives in a slightly different area. For example, G. g. cyanicollis lives in the North Moluccas islands. Another type, G. g. maclennani, is found in northern Queensland, Australia.
What Does a Red-Cheeked Parrot Look Like?
Both male and female red-cheeked parrots are mostly bright green. They have a strong body and a short tail.
The adult male has pinkish-red cheeks and face. The back and top of his head are blue-purple. He also has chestnut-colored feathers on his wings. The underside of his wings is blue. His upper beak is a coral-pink color.
The female parrot looks a bit different. Her head is brown, and her cheeks and throat are more olive-brown. Her whole beak is gray-brown. Young parrots have a green head with an olive tint. All red-cheeked parrots have yellow eyes.
Their beaks are strong and perfect for eating seeds and fruit. These parrots fly fast and straight, similar to a starling. Their call sounds "metallic." A typical red-cheeked parrot is about 25 centimeters (10 inches) tall. Its wings can spread about 13.5 to 15.5 centimeters (5 to 6 inches).
Where Do Red-Cheeked Parrots Live?
You can find red-cheeked parrots in many places. They live in the Cape York Peninsula in Australia. They are also found in Indonesia, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea. They live on several islands in these regions too.
These parrots like to live in different kinds of forests. This includes dry forests, moist lowland forests, and even mangrove forests near the coast. They often live near streams within these forests.
Red-Cheeked Parrot Behaviour and Life Cycle
Red-cheeked parrots usually live in pairs. Outside of the breeding season, they might form small family groups. During the breeding season, they are mostly seen in pairs. We don't know much about their specific courtship dances in the wild.
These birds are usually quite shy. However, when they are eating, they gather in large, noisy groups. They are very noticeable when feeding. They don't walk much because their feet are made for perching on branches, not for walking long distances.
They search for food, and their diet includes seeds, fruits (especially figs), blossoms, and nectar. They also eat seeds and fruits from trees like Corymbia papuana and Casuarina papuana.
During the breeding season, the female parrot makes her nest. She digs a hole in a rotting tree branch. A female usually lays about three eggs at a time.
Are Red-Cheeked Parrots Safe?
The red-cheeked parrot lives across a very large area. We don't know the exact number of these birds, but their population seems to be stable. Because of this, the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) lists their conservation status as "Least Concern." This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing.
