THE FIG-PARROTS

di Enzo Patanè

"Allevamento Agata"

Opopsitta gulielmiterti

Feeding

Breeding

Nest

Conclusion

Italian: Pappaggallo dei fichi
Inglish: Fig-parrot

The fig-parrots are original psittacid of the New Guinea and Australia that have the predilection in common in nature for the numerous varieties of present wild fig trees in their habitat.
From a point of view of the nomenclature they are divided in two families: The Psittaculirostrises and the Opopsittas or Cyclopsitta.

The representatives of the first family are of great dimensions (from 16 to the 19 cms) they have in prevalence variedly a green leading color with breast and colored head of yellow, blue and red.

Psittaculisrostris Salvadori male

Of this family they do part the Edwards (psittaculirostris edwardsii), the Salvadori (psittaculirostris salvadorii) and the Desmarest (psittaculirostris desmarestii).

Psittaculisrostris Edwardsii female

Psittaculirostris Salvadori - pair

The first two kinds introduce a marked sexual dimorfism while in third two sexes are identical and they are cataloged at least 6 subspecieses:

1. Psittaculirostris d. desmarestii

2 Psittaculirostris d. intermedia 3. Psittaculirostris d. occidentalis 4. Psittaculirostris d. blythii 5. Psittaculirostris d. godmani 6. Psittaculirostris d. cervicalis

Psittaculirostris desmarestii desmarestii

Of the family of the oposittas they do part two kinds the fig-parrots the double - eyes fig-parrots (opositta diophtalma) and the the orange-breasted fig-parrots (opositta gulielmiterti).
Both the kinds introduce sexual dimorfism and they have a variety of subspecies and particularly:

a) Opositta diophtalma diphthalma

1) Opopsitta d. coccineifrons 2) Opopsitta d. aruensis 3) Opopsitta d. virago 4) Opopsitta d. inseparabilis 5) Opopsitta d. marshalli 6) Opopsitta d. macleayana 7) Opopsitta d. coxeni
	Opopsitta diophtalma diophtalma - male

Opopsitta macleayana Foto D & D Ambrust

b) opositta gulielmiterti

1) Opopsitta g. nigrifrons
2) Opopsitta g. ramuensis
3) Opopsitta g. amabilis
4) Opopsitta g. suavissima
5) Opopsitta g. fuscifrons
6) Opopsitta g. melanogenia

In nature over that of fig trees are nourished of fruit in general, nectar, flowers bugs and them larvas.
In captivity they are decidedly very rare and they enjoy some sad fame of very delicate birds that they die without apparent reason. Really if well acclimatized and maintained in correct conditions they are revealed strong birds and rather prolific.

Lenght: from 12 (opopsitta) to 18 centimeters (psittaculirostris)

Distribution: New Guinea

Natural diet: fruit, buds, flowers and, probably, also bugs.

Breeding in nature: the period of breeding begins to July;

Feeding: This is the key of the survival of these birds; must be how much more varied and renewed daily.
Every type of fruit (especially if cut to bits) it is well ax, but their predilection goes to the fig and cactus-fruits.
These last ones must be furnished the whole year is natural (fresh or thawed) that buckets (recovered in hot water).
I also furnish every type of vegetable and legume (excluded the toxic parsley notoriously) always cut asunder.
Sultana and boiled rice they complete the feeding.
Apart it is necessary to furnish proteins of animal origin (moths of the flour, pinkies or other) that is go added in big quantity in presence of small.
The reason for this necessity derives from the presence in nature of a small wasp that deposes the eggs in the fruits of the wild fig trees acting besides from pollen; it is clear therefore that while they are fed some fruits the parrots they also eat the small larvas.
Desultorily a good mash can be furnished to the egg that however not all the subjects accept; if accepted it is conveneiente to furnish it regularly during the breeding of the small ones.
In a clean container you can also be furnished a small quantity of nectar that however not all tastes.
Cuttle-bone to disposition.
Attention to the micosis that really for the type of feeding they can provoke the famous dead sudden.
A careful cleaning of the containers and the roosts will avoid the problem.
Personally I don't use other vitaminic integrators but in literature it's quoted it needs it integrations of vitamin K to avoid inside hemorrhages; to the respect I think that a complete feeding and varied it doesn't need integrations.

Breeding in captivity: The subjects become adults to 18-24 months but they are been reproduced to the best after the three years of age.
They depose 2 big eggs in a horizontal nest of 40 xes 25 xes 25 cms that like for the rest of the equipment must be strong to withstand to the attack of their powerful bills.
Only the female broods the eggs for 23 - 26 days and the xchicks are born completely naked.
Also in this case there is a difference between kind:
The young salvadoris and desmarestis have ache skin of clear color, while the young edwardsiis son of dark color.

young desmarestii desmarestii 20 days old

The chicks are fed only by the female for at least three weeks while subsequently the father participates also.
The chicks go out from the nest to around 60 days and they are fed by the father for around others two weeks.

Nest :

In figure is reproduced a nest box that personally use.

Conclusions:

Despite their fame of delicate and difficult birds to reproduce the fig-parrots, to mine to seem one of the kinds of available more beautiful and scheming parrots in our cages.
They are not advisable to a beginners breeders because however they need what I call sense of the cage, that is the ability to realize for experience and ability the demands and the possible problems that can present in their breeding.
If well attended they can give really great satisfactions considering that one of my couples of desmarestiis an one year has weaned 7 young happily.