Micropsitta geelvinkiana (Schlegel, 1871)

Bishop, K. David, 2023, The avifauna of Biak Island, Papua, Indonesia with comments on status, conservation, natural history and taxonomy, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 143 (1), pp. 3-62 : 44

GEELVINK PYGMY PARROT Micropsitta geelvinkiana # RR, Near Threatened

Local name Man Nim As (Sansundi).

Range M. g. misoriensis Biak, Supiori ; M. g. geelvinkiana Numfor.

Status Biak endemic subspecies; Teluk Cenderawasih endemic species. Regularly and often commonly seen throughout southern Biak , in remnant secondary or partially degraded lowland forest, cultivation with isolated trees and at edges of native gardens. Although challenging to see because of its small size and swift direct flight, the species’ distinctive series of loud, high-pitched notes is frequently heard. Unlike other Micropsitta , which are regularly seen in small flocks, the species appears to occur only in ones and twos, very occasionally groups of 3‒4. In July 1982 KDB saw it regularly on Supiori, from sea level, at the edge of native gardens and in undisturbed forest to at least c. 360 m. Like congenerics, Geelvink Pygmy Parrot appears capable of adapting to moderate habitat change. 1 July 1990: KDB recorded one uttering a strange warbling vocalisation as it gleaned lichens on a horizontal branch in secondary woodland. Arndt (1992, 1999) who failed to see any on a visit to Biak in 1991, published a detailed study of the species on Biak and Numfor, and estimated its population there at 12,000 birds.

Breeding 30 June 1982: an adult female observed digging a hole with its bill in an arboreal termitarium, c. 1 m above ground and 2 m from a road, in dense secondary woodland in southern Biak ( KDB). 24 August 2019: one excavating a small cavity in an old termite nest attached to a hanging vine (P. Chaon, eBird checklist S59268098).