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HORNED PARAKEET Eunymphicus cornutus ©Lars Petersson

This medium-sized parrot lives in humid pine forests, rainforest and laurel forest habitats, but will accept scrublands or savannah.

Its most striking feature is a two-feather black crest, with the crest feathers tipped in red.

Small family groups, or pairs, will forage in the canopy for their diet of nuts and seeds.

Horned parakeets will nest either on or near the ground, and also in hollowed-out logs, or nest hollows in dead trees. Uncommon among parrots, horned parakeets have been reported nest-sharing. The number of eggs laid is usually 2–4. Incubation lasts 21–22 days and the time from hatching to fledging is approximately 5 to 6 weeks.

Main threats to the horned parakeet are the black rat, the wildcat, the introduced Rusa deer, logging, La Nina (wet) years, and Psittacine beak and feather disease, a severe virus which is known to affect ~42 species of parrots. Humans poaching the birds for local trade is rare, because the birds' nests are difficult to find, and more importantly, there are no ingrained local customs regarding keeping birds as pets. source 

Photo below: ©Joel Sartore/PhotoArk

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Horned Parakeet (Eunymphicus cornutus)

...a species of psittaculid parrot that is endemic to New Caledonia. They typically inhabit laurel forests and pine forests with Agathis and Aaucaria present. Like other parrots this species will congregate in pairs or small flocks and will forage for seeds and nuts in trees. True to its common name E. cornutus sports two black and red feathers that protrude from its head.

Currently Eunymphicus cornutus is listed as vulnerable and has been in decline since the 1800's. It is threatened mostly by habitat fragmentation/destruction and poaching.

Classification

Animalia-Chordata-Aves-Psittaciformes-Psittacoidea-Psittaculidae-Platycercinae-Platycercini-Eunymphicus-E. cornutus

Horned Parakeet (Eunymphicus cornutus)

HORNED PARAKEET (Eunymphicus cornutus) ©Loro Parque Fundación

The Horned Parakeet is a largely green parakeet endemic to New Caledonia. It is called Horned because it has two black feathers that protrude from the head and have red tips. This parakeet has a yellowish nape with a black and red face and bluish wings and tail. It makes a nasal "kho-khoot" contact call and also makes a wide range of shrieks and chuckles.

The Horned Parakeet lives humid pine forests on New Caledonia, especially when Agathis and Araucaria pines are present. They live in pairs or small flocks and forage for seeds and nuts in the canopy. It nests both on the ground and in trees.

This bird has declined since the 1880s, but it is still found in a wide range on New Caledonia and recent population estimates believe that there are over 2500 birds left.

Fact Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horned_Parakeet

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