Psittaciformes - Tanygnathus

Blue-Backed Parrot - Tanygnathus Sumatranus - Least Concern

The blue-backed parrot (Tanygnathus sumatranus) is also known as Müller's (or Mueller's) parrot, or azure-rumped parrot. This parrot is endemic to the Philippines and to Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia. It is found in forest and nearby habitats, including cultivated areas, at altitudes up to 800 meters. Flocks are small and often active at night. It is known to eat crops, including corn.

Description: It is of medium size (32 cm), basically green with yellowish edging to the wings, a blue rump, and blue wing bends. The head, mantle, wings and tail are darker green, the belly and collar are lighter green. It is sexually dimorphic, with the male having a red beak and the female a pale yellow or horn colored beak.

There are six subspecies:

Tanygnathus sumatranus sumatranus: Sulawesi and nearby islands. Yellow iris.
Tanygnathus sumatranus sangirensis: Sangir Islands and Karakelong. More blue on wing bends and wing coverts, head darker green. Yellow iris.
Tanygnathus sumatranus burbidgii: Sulu Islands. Darker green with lighter collar. Yellow iris.
Tanygnathus sumatranus everetti: Panay, Negros, Leyte, Samar, Mindanao. Mantle and back darker, rump and head lighter. Some blue in mantle. Red iris.
Tanygnathus sumatranus duponti: Luzon. Dark green with yellow collar. Yellowish underwing coverts. Iris red.
Tanygnathus sumatranus freeri: Polillo Islands. More uniform color with less contrast, more yellow on nape. Iris red.