Yellow-fronted parrot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow-fronted parrot |
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| Adult in Ethiopia | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Poicephalus
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| Species: |
flavifrons
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The yellow-fronted parrot (Poicephalus flavifrons) is a special type of parrot. It lives only in the Ethiopian Highlands in Africa. This bird is mostly green with a bright yellow head. We are still learning a lot about this unique parrot!
Contents
Discovering the Yellow-Fronted Parrot
A German scientist named Eduard Rüppell first described this parrot in 1845. He gave it the scientific name Poicephalus flavifrons. The name flavifrons comes from two Latin words. Flavus means "yellow," and frons means "forehead." So, its name literally means "yellow forehead"!
Are There Different Kinds of Yellow-Fronted Parrots?
Most experts today think there is only one type of yellow-fronted parrot. This is called being monotypic. However, some people believe there are two slightly different kinds. These are called subspecies. They are named P. f. flavifrons and P. f. aurantiiceps.
What Does the Yellow-Fronted Parrot Look Like?
This parrot is about 28 centimeters (11 inches) long. It is mostly green. The feathers on its upper body are a darker green. Its tail is olive-brown, and its legs are dark grey-brown. The most striking part is its face, which is orange-yellow.
Differences in Appearance
If there are two subspecies, they have small differences. The P. f. flavifrons type has yellow on its whole head and face. The P. f. aurantiiceps type has some orange mixed in with the yellow.
Beak, Eyes, and Young Parrots
The top part of its beak is brownish-grey. The bottom part is bone-colored. Its eyes are orange-red. The skin around its eyes and nose (called the cere) is grey. Male and female parrots look exactly the same. Young parrots, called juveniles, look a bit duller. Their heads are mostly grey, and their eyes are brown. They only have a small amount of yellow on their forehead.
Where Does the Yellow-Fronted Parrot Live?
This parrot lives only in the Ethiopian Highlands. This area is in Africa. They live at high altitudes, from about 1,000 to 3,000 meters (3,300 to 9,800 feet) above sea level.
Specific Locations for Subspecies
If we consider the two subspecies, they live in different places. The P. f. flavifrons type is found in the highlands around Lake Tana. It also lives in central Ethiopia. The P. f. aurantiiceps type is found in southwestern Ethiopia.
Habitat of the Yellow-Fronted Parrot
Unlike most other Poicephalus parrots, the yellow-fronted parrot lives in forests. Other parrots in this group, like the Cape parrot and red-fronted parrot, also prefer forest homes.
Yellow-Fronted Parrots as Pets
For a long time, the yellow-fronted parrot was not known as a pet bird. This is called aviculture. Recently, some of these parrots appeared in collections in Slovakia. They have been able to have babies while living with people. Now, you can find them in several countries in Europe. Both types of subspecies are kept in captivity.
