Psittaciformes - Psittacella - Brehm's Tiger Parrot

Brehm's Tiger Parrot - Psittacella Brehmii - Least Concern

Brehm's tiger parrot, Psittacella brehmii, is also known as Brehm's ground parrot. It is a small mainly green parrot found in the highlands of New Guinea, from 1,500-2,600m (extremes 1,100-3,800m).

Subspecies: There are four subspecies occurring in three distinct populations:

P. b. brehmii: Bird's Head Peninsula, West Papua.
P. b. intermixta: Central highlands of New Guinea. Underparts and barring on back more yellowish-green. Larger.
P. b. pallida: SE highlands of New Guinea. Like nominate but narrower bill.
P. b. harterti: Huon Peninsula (NE New Guinea). Paler head, less yellowish-green. Smaller.

In Brehm's central range the Painted Tiger parrot, P. picta, takes over above 2700m, but that species is not found in the Huon range, where Brehm's ranges higher. They are found singly or in small groups and feed on seeds and berries in the sub-canopy or near ground level.

Description: Brehm's tiger parrot is the largest species in the genus Psittacella and is about 24 cm (9.4 in) in length and weighs between 94 to 120 g (3.3–4.2 oz). It is mainly green with a dull olive-brown head, transverse yellow and black bars on the back and rump, and red undertail coverts. Its irises are red, and its beak is blueish-grey fading to white at the tip. Its legs are grey. The male has a yellow stripe on the sides of its neck and a green breast without barring. Females lack the yellow stripe on the neck and have a yellow and black striped breast. Juveniles resemble females, but have yellowish-brown irises and a more faded green and pale-yellow barring on the breast.