|
Measurements
Total length: 30 to 35cm
Weight: 300 to 340g
|
Diet
Vasas mainly eat a diet consisting of ripe and unripe fruits but
also, seeds, mixed nuts and other vegetation.
|
Identification
Also known as the black
parrot because of its dark colouration, both
adults are black/brown body colour. The undertail covers marked grey;
outer webs of primary feathers grey; tail brown/black, banded darker
towards tip. The bill is pink/white, becoming grey after moult. |
|
Reproduction
They build their
nests in hollow trees and go through courtship in February. During
this time, the female may shed the feathers on her head giving it
a yellowish tone. The male's beak may also turn white during this
time. They have a
very short egg incubation period of just 18 days and the young fledge
the nest a just 7 weeks. |
|
Conservation
Like much of the wildlife
of Madagascar, the vasa parrots' future is uncertain mainly due to
the loss of natural habitat. The
Seychelles population is endangered. |
