Maroon shining parrot

The maroon shining parrot was formally described in 1788 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with all the other parrots in the genus Psittacus and coined the binomial name Psittacus tabuensis.[2] Gmelin based his description of the Tabuan parrot that the English ornithologist John Latham had described and illustrated in 1781 in his A General Synopsis of Birds.[3] The maroon shining parrot is now placed with two other species in the genus Prosopeia that was introduced in 1854 by the French naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte.[4][5] The genus name is from the Ancient Greek prosōpeion meaning "mask". The specific epithet tabuensis is from Tongatapu, the main island of Tonga.[6]

Two subspecies are recognised:[5]

• P. t. taviunensis (Layard, EL, 1876) – Taveuni, Qamea and Laucala (north-central Fiji, southwest Polynesia)
• P. t. tabuensis (Gmelin, JF, 1788) – Vanua Levu, Kioa, Koro and Gau (north-central Fiji, southwest Polynesia) and Eua (Tonga, south-central Polynesia)

Adults have variable plumage; red/black face; rest of head brown/red, darker on hindcheeks; underparts dark maroon; dark blue collar across upper mantle, obvious in some birds but in others narrow and nearly absent; upperparts and tail green, feathers on rump in some individuals edged with maroon. Bill grey/black. Dark grey eye ring. Eye orange/yellow.[7]

The subspecies P. t. taviunensis differs from the nominate in that it lacks the blue on the lower part of its neck and the part of the face between the eyes and the bill on the sides of its head the coloring is not as black. Additionally, there is not much red or maroon coloring on the feathering on the rear of the bird. It is also smaller in size.[7]

The call of the maroon shining parrot is a mix of high-pitched nea-nea and arr sounds that are repeated in bursts, in addition to a variety of other squawks and hoots. The maroon shining parrot most commonly calls at night or when returning to its nest.[8]

In Tonga the maroon shining parrot is known as the Koki for the sound it makes.[9]^: 1 The bird was first introduced to Tonga by trade in the eighteenth century, but is now found only on the island of ʻEua.[9]^: 4

The maroon shining parrot is native to Fiji and Tonga, near the forests or on the islands of Kadavu and Ono. It is often found in mature forests as well as secondary growth forests, forested valleys (where they breed from June to January), coconut plantations, village gardens, farmlands, mangroves, and scrub. They are often found alone, in flocks up to 40 or in pairs.[7]

Red-shining parrots are rarely raised in captivity. They are in danger of extinction, and are therefore usually only raised in captivity by people who have done specific training. If they are wanted for breeding they can then be placed into breeding programs.[7]

For the most part, the parrots are quiet during the day. Towards the evening is when they tend to be vocal. They can learn to talk. They prefer to fly around during the evening times. They also enjoy self-bathing.[7]

These parrots should remain in stable climates; they are accustomed to warmth. The ideal living temperature for the maroon shining parrot is above 23 C (72 F). If the temperature drops below 15 C (59 F), there could be serious negative consequences for the bird, as it is not well-adapted to the cold.[7]