Fun Fig Parrot Facts For Kids

Fig parrots are a group of Australasian parrots belonging to the family Psittaculidae, which comprises five species in two genera, Cyclopsitta, and Psittaculirostris. The most abundantly found species is the double-eyed fig parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma), mostly found in the rainforests of northeastern New Guinea and its nearby islands.

However, one of its subspecies, the Coxen's fig parrot, is an Endangered species in Queensland, and New South Wales, Australia.

Coxen's fig parrot is also one of the rarest and least-known bird species of Australia.

These parrots are mostly green with some blue, yellow, and red markings on their body. Both male and female figs are almost similar in appearance except for the fact that the male birds have much redder cheek parts than the female birds, and their head is colored out.

Here, we have many amazing and interesting facts about fig parrots that you will enjoy. For more relatable content, check out these Cape parrot facts and night parrot facts for kids.

Fig Parrot Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a fig parrot?

Like the double-eyed fig parrot, fig parrots are a small group of Australasian parrots having five species in two genera. The most popular and widely found species is the double-eyed fig parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma).

Double-eyed fig parrots are stocky little birds with a disproportionately large and broad bill, a short tail, and red and blue face markings. They possess various colors ranging from green to blue to yellow. However, they are predominantly green in color, and the males have more red cheek parts than the females.

What class of animal does a fig parrot belong to?

Fig parrots are a group of parrots, and parrots are a species of bird, so like the other species of bird, it belongs to the class of Aves.

How many fig parrots are there in the world?

The exact estimate of the total population of fig parrots in the world is yet not known. Still, some of its species, like the double-eyed fig parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma) are present in vast numbers.

In contrast, some of its subspecies, like the Coxen's fig parrot, have been declared an Endangered species in areas like Queensland and some northern parts of Australia.

Where does a fig parrot live?

Fig parrots usually live in tropical and sub-tropical rainforests.

What is a fig parrot's habitat?

Fig parrots are usually found along the northeastern islands of New Guinea. However, the double-eyed fig parrots (Cyclopsitta diophthalma) are also found inhabiting the rainforests of New Guinea, the tropical Australian coast, and Queensland. Also, these fig parrots love to fly over thick tree canopies.

Who do fig parrots live with?

Double-eyed fig parrots prefer to live and forage in a flock of few birds or in pairs.

How long does a fig parrot live?

The accurate lifespan of a double-eyed fig parrot is not known yet, but it is thought to be somewhere around 10-15 years.

How do they reproduce?

The double-eyed fig parrot reproduces through the conventional method. The breeding season of figs starts in July, and the females start making nests on the branches of rainforest trees soon after the beginning of the breeding season.

Females solely incubate the eggs until their hatching, whereas the males help in the process of feeding—the average litter size range from two to three eggs.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of some of the species, like the double-eyed fig parrot, is of Least Concern, whereas it is Endangered for some of the subspecies of the genus, like the Coxeni.

Fig Parrot Fun Facts

What do fig parrots look like?

Fig parrots are a group of little birds with different species possessing different colors. The double-eyed fig parrot is mostly green in color with a large bill and red and blue facial markings.

The males have more red color on their cheek parts than the females, and their heads are colored out. The red-browed fig parrot or the Macleayana is also predominantly green with some yellow and red markings on its body surface, just like the Marshalli and the Virago subspecies of the double-eyed fig parrot.

How cute are they?

With their vibrant yellow, red, and blue colored body, beautiful wing, and large bill, the fig parrots, and particularly the double-eyed fig parrot, are extremely cute birds.

How do they communicate?

Double-eyed fig parrot sounds are very high-pitched and loud. The figs make this call during flight or when perched to communicate with other figs. However, while breeding and feeding, the double-eyed fig parrots call range from softer, chattering sounds to large, high-pitched ones.

How big is a fig parrot?

The average size of fig parrots is 4.8-6.5 in (12.1-16.5 cm), whereas the average size of its most popular breed, the double eyed fig parrot, is 5.1-6.3 in (13-16 cm), which is roughly equal to the size of its various subspecies, the Macleayana, the Marshalli, the Coxeni, and the Virago. They are nearly four times smaller than military macaws.

How fast can a fig parrot fly?

Researchers have not yet found out about the exact flying speed of double-eyed fig parrots or any species of this breed of parrots, but these birds are believed to fly at very high speed during flight and other situations because of their long and feathery wings.

How much does a fig parrot weigh?

The weight of an average fig parrot ranges between 1.5-1.9 oz (42-55 g), almost equal to the weight of its other subspecies like the Marshalli, popularly called the Marshall's fig parrot. However, the male of this species is a bit heavier than the female. They are three to four times bigger than swamp sparrows.

What are the male and female names of the species?

The male and the female bird of this breed do not have any specific names.

What would you call a baby fig parrot?

A baby fig parrot, just like the male and female of this breed, does not bear any special name.

What do they eat?

The diet of this breed usually comprises fruits of some trees, berries, seeds, nectar, along with pollens and small insects. This breed recognizes particular fruit trees and tends to get attracted to them repeatedly for their diet. The double-eyed fig parrots also eat the same diet.

Are they dangerous?

No, these creatures are not at all dangerous in nature.

Would they make a good pet?

Yes, they would make an excellent pet just like the other breeds of parrots, but it is not advisable to pet them because some of their sub-species come under the Endangered category, which makes it even illegal to keep them as a pet.

Did you know...

Australia alone has about 56 out of the total 375 parrot species of the world.

Types of fig parrot

The taxonomy of the fig parrot is as such: fig parrots are a group of Australasian parrots belonging to the family Psittaculidae, which comprises five species in two genera, Cyclopsitta and Psittaculirostris.

The various species of the genera Cyclopsitaa include orange-breast fig parrot and double-eyed fig parrot, whereas the species of the genera Psittaculirostris includes large fig parrot, Edwards's fig parrot or the scarlet cheeked fig parrot, and Salvadori's fig parrot.

The double-eyed species is further divided into eight subspecies: the Astrolabe mountain fig parrot (coccineifrons), Hartert's fig parrot (virago), Marshall's fig parrot, and Macleay's fig parrot or red-headed fig parrot, and Coxen's fig parrot.

The Astrolabe mountain fig parrot (coccineifrons) is restricted to New Guinea, whereas others are found in various parts of the globe.

What birds are the closest relatives of the fig parrots?

Budgerigars (Melopsittacini) are the closest relatives of the fig parrots.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our Pacific parrotlet surprising facts and blue-winged macaw interesting facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable fig parrot coloring pages.