Coracopsis vasa

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: ParaHoxozoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Olfactores
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Cladus: Sauropsida
Cladus: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Neodiapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Cladus: Archelosauria
Cladus: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crocopoda
Cladus: Archosauriformes
Cladus: Eucrocopoda
Cladus: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Cladus: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Cladus: Saurischia
Cladus: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Subclassis: Aves
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Cladus: Telluraves
Cladus: Australaves
Ordo: Psittaciformes

Familia: Psittaculidae
Genus: Coracopsis
Species: Coracopsis vasa
Subspecies: C. v. comorensis – C. v. drouhardi – C. v. vasa
Name

Coracopsis vasa (Shaw, 1812)
Synonymy

Psittacus vasa (protonym)

References

General Zoology 8 (2): 528.

Vernacular names
brezhoneg: Peroked vasa
català: Lloro negre gros
čeština: Vaza velký
Cymraeg: Parot fasa
Deutsch: Großer Vasapapagei
English: Greater Vasa Parrot
español: Loro vasa
suomi: Isomustakaija
français: Grand Vaza
magyar: Nagy vázapapagáj
italiano: Vasa maggiore
кырык мары: Кого ваза попугай
Nederlands: Grote vasapapegaai
Diné bizaad: Mágí Bitseeʼ Noodǫ́zí Bikéyahdę́ę́ʼ tsídii yáłtiʼí diłhiłígíí
polski: Papuzica duża
پنجابی: وڈا واسا طوطا
svenska: Större vasapapegoja

The greater vasa parrot (Coracopsis vasa) is one of two species of vasa parrot, the other being the lesser vasa parrot (C. nigra). The greater vasa parrot can be found throughout Madagascar and the Comoros.
Taxonomy

The bird was first described in 1812 by George Shaw. There are three subspecies:[2]

Coracopsis vasa, (Shaw, 1812)
Coracopsis vasa comorensis, (Peters, W, 1854)
Coracopsis vasa drouhardi, Lavauden, 1929
Coracopsis vasa vasa, (Shaw, 1812)

The bird is placed in the genus Mascarinus by some authorities.
Description

The greater vasa parrot's breeding season is uncertain, but is probably between October and December.[3] It has a very unusual breeding biology and mating system; females are 25% larger than males, and are, physically, dominant. The species lives in loose, polygynandrous groups wherein each female has at least 3-8 sexual partners. The males have re-evolved a phallus, and copulations can last up to 90 minutes.[4] Copulations come in two lengths—short (1–3 seconds) and long durations (averaging 36 minutes), with the latter involving a copulatory tie. A copulatory tie usually applies to mammals, such as canids and felids, where the two animals are unable to physically part during mating due to the swelling, and structure, of the penis within the female's body (being barbed or lined with small "hooks" in some species).[5] During brooding and chick-rearing, females shed their head feathers and develop bright orange skin coloration, and also sing complex songs from perches close to the nest.[5] These serve to attract males to approach and regurgitate food, which the female accepts while off the nest.[5] The females also defend a territory around their nest from other females during this period.[5]
Ecology

In Madagascar it is more common in portions of the dry deciduous forests, compared with the lesser vasa parrot which is more common in the humid forests of the east coast.[1] Feeds, in large, noisy flocks, on wild berries, fruits, nuts and seeds and also on cultivated maize, millet and rice. The bird is active on moonlit nights, otherwise they roost in large noisy flocks in the tops of large trees. A lookout warns of danger.[3]

Greater vasa parrots in Lincolnshire Wildlife Park have been recorded using grinding technology – the first non-human animal to be observed doing this. They were observed holding date stones and pebbles in their beak to grind calicium-rich dust from seashells. It happens most frequently just before the breeding season and the males were observed doing it more often. A possible explanation is the females need the extra calcium to build eggshells and the males feed them with regurgitated food.[6]
Status

This bird is common in some areas and overall the population is thought to be declining, but not enough to classify this bird as vulnerable. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the conservation status of this bird as of least concern.[7]
Coracopsis vasa - MHNT
References

BirdLife International (2018). "Coracopsis vasa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22685261A131279943. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22685261A131279943.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
"Zoological Nomenclature Resource: Psittaciformes (Version 9.020)". www.zoonomen.net. 2009-03-01.
"Vasa Parrot". World Parrot Trust. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
Birkhead, Tim (2012). Bird Sense.
Ekstrom, J. M. M.; Burke, T.; Randrianaina, L.; Birkhead, T. R. (2007-01-22). "Unusual sex roles in a highly promiscuous parrot: the Greater Vasa Parrot Caracopsis vasa". Ibis. 149 (2). Wiley: 313–320. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.2006.00632.x.
Blackman, Stuart (March 2016). "Parrots use tools to grind". BBC Wildlife. Vol. 34, no. 3. p. 17.
"Vasa Parrot Coracopsis vasa". BirdLife International. Archived from the original on 26 December 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2016.