Loriculus bonapartei
The Black-billed Hanging Parrot, Loriculus bonapartei, is a diminutive and vibrant member of the Old World parrot family Psittaculidae, endemic to the Sulu Archipelago of the southern Philippines. Measuring a mere 13-14 cm in length, this species is predominantly emerald green, adorned with a distinctive red rump, and in males, a bright red throat patch and a variable red wash on the forehead. Its most defining field mark, as its name suggests, is a unique black bill, which readily distinguis...
This species primarily inhabits lowland and hill forests, often found at the edges, in open woodlands, and occasionally in cultivated areas and coconut plantations, from sea level up to approximately 1,000 meters.
The primary diet consists of nectar, blossoms, small fruits, and seeds, with a strong preference for flowering trees.
Black-billed Hanging Parrots are diurnal, highly active birds typically observed in pairs or small, agile flocks. Their foraging behavior is characterized by remarkable acrobatics, often seen clinging upside down to branches and flowers as they extract nectar, fruits, and small seeds. While speci...
The Black-billed Hanging Parrot is strictly endemic to the Sulu Archipelago in the southern Philippines. Its distribution encompasses several islands within this archipelago, including Jolo, Sanga-Sanga, Tawitawi, and Sibutu. This species is a resident, non-migratory bird, occupying its range yea...
Near Threatened
- The Black-billed Hanging Parrot is named after Charles Lucien Bonaparte, a French ornithologist and nephew of Emperor Napoleon I. - At just 13-14 cm long, it is among the smallest parrot species in the world. - Its defining characteristic is its black bill, a unique trait that separates it from...