The Vernal Hanging Parrot (Loriculus vernalis) is a small parrot which is a resident breeder from India, Nepal and some other areas of Southeast Asia. In Sri Lanka, it is replaced by the very similar endemic Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, (L. beryllinus). It undergoes local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit, seeds, buds and blossoms that make up its diet. They frequent the Banyan tree for the fruit and Plantain trees for the nectar from the flowers.
Vernal Hanging Parrot is a bird of dry jungle and cultivation. It nests in holes in trees, laying 2-4 white eggs.
This is a small, mainly green hanging parrot, only 14 cm long with a short tail. The adult male has a red rump and bill, and blue throat patch. The female has a green patch.
Immature birds have a duller rump, and lack the throat patch.
Vernal Hanging Parrot is less gregarious than some of its relatives, and is usually in small groups outside the breeding season. Its flight is swift and direct, and the call is a raucous chattering.
Read more about Vernal Hanging Parrot: Breeding
Famous quotes containing the words vernal, hanging and/or parrot:
“Some people are like ants. Give them a warm day and a piece of ground and they start digging. There the similarity ends. Ants keep on digging. Most people dont. They establish contact with the soil, absorb so much vernal vigor that they cant stay in one place, and desert the fork or spade to see how the rhubarb is coming and whether the asparagus is yet in sight.”
—Hal Borland (19001978)
“Donne, for not keeping of accent, deserved hanging ... Shakespeare wanted art ... Sharpham, Day, Dekker, were all rogues.”
—Ben Jonson (c. 15721637)
“This parrot is no more! It has ceased to be! Its expired and gone to meet its maker! This is a late parrot! Its a stiff!... THIS IS AN EX-PARROT!”
—Monty Pythons Flying Circus. Monty Pythons Flying Circus (TV series)