Pesquet’s parrot

21 Jan 2023
Pesquet’s parrot

Also known as the Dracula parrot, this species of bird is endemic to the mountain forests of Papua New Guinea. They are large parrots, growing up to 18 inches. Their plumage is black, with greyish scaling on the chest, and a red belly. Compared to the majority of other parrots, they have unusually small-heads. They like to travel in groups of up to 20 individuals and feed almost exclusively on figs. Their beautiful, vivid, red feathers are highly prized, causing them to be hunted for trade. They are also threatened by habitat destruction due to illegal logging and forest clearing.