The greater vasa parrot (''Coracopsis vasa'') is one of two species of
vasa parrot
:''The name vasa parrot is also used for the greater vasa parrot.''
The vasa parrots (''Coracopsis'') are four species of parrot which are endemic to Madagascar and other islands in the western Indian Ocean. Some taxonomists formerly placed the ...
, the other being the
lesser vasa parrot
The lesser vasa parrot or black parrot (''Coracopsis nigra'') is a black coloured parrot Endemism, endemic to most of Madagascar. It is one of four species of vasa parrots, the others being the greater vasa parrot ''C. vasa'', the Seychelles blac ...
''C. nigra''. The greater vasa parrot can be found throughout
Madagascar
Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
and the
Comoros
The Comoros,, ' officially the Union of the Comoros,; ar, الاتحاد القمري ' is an independent country made up of three islands in southeastern Africa, located at the northern end of the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean. It ...
.
Taxonomy
The bird was described by
George Shaw George Shaw may refer to:
* George Shaw (biologist) (1751–1813), English botanist and zoologist
* George B. Shaw (1854–1894), U.S. Representative from Wisconsin
* George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950), Irish playwright
* George C. Shaw (1866–196 ...
an English zoologist in 1812. There are three subspecies:
* ''Coracopsis vasa'',
(Shaw) 1812
** ''Coracopsis vasa comorensis'',
(Peters,W) 1854
** ''Coracopsis vasa drouhardi'',
Lavauden 1929
** ''Coracopsis vasa vasa'',
(Shaw) 1812
The bird is placed in the genus ''Mascarinus'' by some authorities.
Description
The greater vasa parrot breeding season is uncertain but is probably between October to December.
It has a very unusual breeding biology and mating system. Females are 25% larger than males and are physically dominant. The species lives in loose polygynandrous groups wherein each female has at least three to eight sexual partners. The males have re-evolved a phallus and copulations can last up to 90 minutes. Copulations come in two varieties, short duration (1–3 seconds) and long duration (averaging 36 minutes), with the latter involving a
copulatory tie
Canine reproduction is the process of sexual reproduction in domestic dogs, wolves, coyotes and other canine species.
Canine sexual anatomy and development Male reproductive system Erectile tissue
As with all mammals, a dog's penis is made up of ...
. A copulatory tie usually refers to mammals such canines where the animals are unable to part during mating due to the swelling of the penis within the females body.
During brooding and chick-rearing, females shed their head feathers and develop bright orange skin coloration, and also sing complex songs from perches close to the nest.
These serve to attract males to approach and regurgitate food, which the female accepts while off the nest.
The females also defend a territory around their nest from other females during this period.
Ecology
In Madagascar it is more common in portions of the
dry deciduous forests, compared with the lesser vasa parrot which is more common in the humid forests of the east coast.
Feeds, in large, noisy flocks, on wild berries, fruits, nuts and seeds and also on cultivated maize, millet and rice. The bird is active on moonlit nights, otherwise they roost in large noisy flocks in the tops of large trees. A lookout warns of danger.
Greater vasa parrots in
Lincolnshire Wildlife Park
Lincolnshire (abbreviated Lincs.) is a Counties of England, county in the East Midlands of England, with a long coastline on the North Sea to the east. It borders Norfolk to the south-east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south-we ...
have been recorded using grinding technology – the first non-human animal to be observed doing this. They were observed holding date stones and pebbles in their beak to grind
calicium-rich dust from seashells. It happens most frequently just before the breeding season and the males were observed doing it more often. A possible explanation is the females need the extra calcium to build eggshells and the males feed them with regurgitated food.
Status
This bird is common in some areas and overall the population is thought to be declining, but not enough to classify this bird as
vulnerable. The
International Union for Conservation of Nature
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...
has classified the conservation status of this bird as of
least concern
A least-concern species is a species that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as evaluated as not being a focus of species conservation because the specific species is still plentiful in the wild. T ...
.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1089617
greater vasa parrot
The greater vasa parrot (''Coracopsis vasa'') is one of two species of vasa parrot, the other being the lesser vasa parrot ''C. nigra''. The greater vasa parrot can be found throughout Madagascar and the Comoros.
Taxonomy
The bird was describe ...
Birds of the Comoros
Birds of Madagascar
greater vasa parrot
The greater vasa parrot (''Coracopsis vasa'') is one of two species of vasa parrot, the other being the lesser vasa parrot ''C. nigra''. The greater vasa parrot can be found throughout Madagascar and the Comoros.
Taxonomy
The bird was describe ...
Taxa named by George Shaw