Micropsitta meeki
Meek's Pygmy Parrot (*Micropsitta meeki*) is a remarkably diminutive avian marvel, measuring a mere 9-10 cm in length, making it one of the smallest parrots in its geographic range. Its plumage is predominantly emerald green, providing excellent camouflage amidst the dense rainforest canopy. Males exhibit a brighter yellowish throat and breast, a distinct blue central crown patch, and a yellow-orange wash on the flanks and underwing coverts, features subtly paler or reduced in females. A key ...
This species exclusively inhabits primary lowland rainforests, occasionally venturing into disturbed forest edges or older cocoa plantations, typically at elevations up to 700-900 meters above sea level.
Primarily consumes lichens and fungi, particularly epiphytic species found on tree bark, supplemented by small insects, larvae, and spores gleaned from these growths.
Meek's Pygmy Parrot is primarily diurnal, active from dawn to dusk, and roosts solitarily or in pairs within dense foliage or tree cavities. Its foraging strategy is highly specialized, involving nimble scaling of tree trunks and branches using its stiff tail feathers as a brace, much like a wood...
Meek's Pygmy Parrot is endemic to the Bismarck Archipelago, specifically distributed across the Admiralty Islands and the St Matthias Islands, both politically part of Papua New Guinea. The nominate subspecies, *Micropsitta meeki meeki*, is found on Manus Island and smaller adjacent islands like ...
Least Concern
- Measuring only 9-10 cm, Meek's Pygmy Parrot is among the smallest parrot species globally, barely larger than a hummingbird. - Unlike most parrots, it has disproportionately long, stiff tail feathers which it uses as a "third leg" to brace itself while climbing tree trunks, much like a woodpeck...