General Information

The Double-eyed Fig Parrot is also known as the Blue-faced Fig-parrot, Red-Faced Fig-parrot, Dwarf Fig-parrot, and the Two-eyed Fig-parrot. It is Australia's smallest known parrot.

Physical Description

An average individual is about 5 1/2 in. long. As with many birds, the plumage of both sexes is different.  The male of the species possesses bright plumage and the female has a more dull display. Both sexes have a red forehead, but the male has a red cheek patch, while the female's cheek patch is yellow.

Diet

The Double-eyed Fig-parrot generally forages for figs, berries, seeds, nectar, and the grubs of wood-boring insects. However, once they stop to feed, they are usually quiet and rarely seen due to their diminutive size. This animals foraging is done in pairs or in a flock consisting of a few small animals. They tend to fly in a quick and direct manner and produce short and shrill calls throughout their habitat.

Habitat

The fig parrot inhabits primarily the island of New Guinea, but is also found in isolated spots along the Australian coast from Cape York Peninsula to northern New South Wales. Fig Parrots are found mainly around figs in tropical rainforests.

Reproduction

Their nesting behavior consists of boring a hole into a rotten tree. Unlike many other parrots in Australia that use existing holes for nests, fig parrots actually excavate their own nest. Because they choose rotten trees, the female's eggs will be laid in as extremely shaky and unstable place.