The islands of Indonesia are home to an incredible diversity of life, with new species still being discovered even today. One such endemic bird is the Buru Racket-tail (Prioniturus mada), a vividly plumed parrot found only on the forested slopes of Buru Island in the southern Moluccas archipelago. Though related to other racket-tailed parrots of…
The Golden-mantled Racket-tail Parrot (Prioniturus platurus) is a beautiful and fascinating bird endemic to Indonesia. With it’s vibrant green plumage accented with splashes of red, orange, blue, and black, this parrot is a real stunner. But there’s more to this species than it’s looks. The Golden-mantled Racket-tail has some very unique features, including it’s namesake…
You gaze up into the canopy of the lush tropical forest, scanning the branches until you spot it – the bright plumage of the Yellow-breasted Racket-tail Parrot, endemic to northern Sulawesi, Indonesia. With it’s vivid colors and unique racket-shaped tail feathers, this rare parrot has captivated bird enthusiasts for years. While relatively little is known…
The brilliant plumage and unique racquet-shaped tail feathers of the Blue-winged Racquet-tailed Parrot make it one of the most distinctive members of the parrot family. Yet this rare beauty is on the brink of extinction. “The Blue-winged Racquet-tail is one of the most endangered parrots in the world.” Endemic to a few small islands in…
With it’s bright green plumage and distinctive blue crown, the Blue-crowned Racket-tail Parrot is truly a sight to behold. This medium-sized, vibrantly colored parrot endemic to the Philippines has some features that make it unique among it’s parrot relatives. Most notably, it possesses elongated central tail feathers that end in paddle-shaped “rackets”—a trait found in…
The brilliant green plumage and unique elongated tail feathers make the Green Racket-tail parrot stand out. But this beauty is now rare across the Philippine islands where it is found. Once a common sight, this endemic parrot has declined sharply. Deforestation and trapping for the pet trade have reduced it’s population. Conservationists now consider the…
The Blue-headed Racket-tail (Prioniturus platenae) is a beautiful parrot endemic to the western Philippine islands. With it’s bright blue head, green body, and unique racquet-shaped tail feathers, this medium-sized bird makes a striking impression. This species has faced significant population declines in recent decades due to deforestation and trapping. As a result, it is currently…
The island of Mindanao in the Philippines is home to incredible biodiversity, including many endemic bird species found nowhere else on Earth. One of these unique birds is the Mindanao Racket-tail parrot (Prioniturus waterstradti), a vividly colored parrot distinguished by it’s distinctive tail feathers. As an endemic species with a limited range, this parrot merits…
The Montane racket-tail (Prioniturus montanus) is a vibrantly colored parrot endemic to the mountain forests of Luzon Island in the Philippines. With it’s bright plumage and unique racketed tail feathers, this bird has captivated ornithologists and bird enthusiasts since it’s discovery. Though superficially similar to other Asian parrots, the Montane racket-tail possesses several distinctive traits…
The tropical forests of the Philippines and Indonesia are home to some of the most beautiful and unique birds in the world. Among these are the parrots of the genus Prioniturus, from the Family Psittaculidae and Sub-Family Psittaculinae. They are medium-sized arboreal species recognized by their long graduated tails and extraordinarily vivid plumage. “The racket-tailed…
