Desmarest’s Golden-headed or Large Fig Parrots

The Desmarest’s Golden-headed Parrot is also known as Large Fig Parrot, Desmarest’s Lory or Desmarest’s Fig Parrots (Psittaculirostris desmarestii).

Distribution / Range

This parrot is found in the subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest areas and moist montanes in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea – locally up to 4,900 ft (~1,500 m).

Description

This parrot averages 7.2 inches (18 cm ) in length – from bill to the tip of the tail. The plumage of the nominate species, as well as the sub-species, is mainly green with a contrasting fiery-orange forehead and orange-yellow crown and nape. Blue markings are visible on the breast flight feathers. Both males and females look alike.

More Fig Parrot Information

• Fig Parrots Diet
• Fig Parrots – General Info
• Photos of Different Fig Parrot Species for Identification
• Fig Parrots Keeping / As Pets or Aviary Birds
• Fig Parrot Species
• Breeding Fig Parrots

Six well defined geographical races have been identified:

• Desmarest’s Fig-Parrot, Golden-headed Fig-Parrot (Psittaculirostris desmarestii desmarestii) – Nominate Species … Range: Eastern Regions of the Vogelkop, Western New Guinea
  • Godman’s Fig-Parrots (Psittaculirostris desmarestii godmani)
    • Range: Southern and Western New Guinea, Papua
    Western golden-headed Fig-Parrots (Psittaculirostris desmarestii occidentalis)
    • Range: Western Vogelkop, Western New Guinea, Salawati and Batanta, Western Papuan Island of Misool (Maluku province)
    Southern Fig-Parrots (Psittaculirostris desmarestii cervicalis)
    • Range: South-eastern New Guinea
    Van Oort’s Fig-Parrots (Psittaculirostris desmarestii intermedia)
    • Range: Onin Peninsula, Western New Guinea
  • Wallace’s Fig-Parrots (Psittaculirostris desmarestii blythii)
    • Range: Western Papuan Island of Misool (Maluku province)

Breeding

Average clutch size: 2 eggs.

Approx. incubation: 22 days.

Taxonomy

Genus: Scientific: Psittaculirostris … English: Fig-Parrot … Dutch: Wigstaartdwergpapegaaien … German: Keilschwanzzwergpapageien … French: Lorillet

Species: Scientific: Psittaculirostris desmarestii desmarestii … English: Desmarest’s Fig-Parrot, Golden-headed Fig-Parrot … Dutch: Desmarests Vijgpapegaai … German: Desmarest Keilschwanzzwergpapagei … French: Lorillet de Desmarest … CITES II – Endangered Species

Distribution: Eastern Regions of the Vogelkop, Western New Guinea