Lesser Vasa Parrot (Coracopsis nigra)
Illustration redrawn by AI from a real photograph

Lesser Vasa Parrot

Coracopsis nigra (Linnaeus, 1758)

186 gWeight

The lesser vasa parrot or black parrot (Coracopsis nigra) is a black coloured parrot endemic to most of Madagascar.

Busiest months: November · Most records: Madagascar, Mauritius

Vulnerable

Where and when it's recorded

Lesser Vasa Parrot has been recorded at 22 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 2 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Ifaty – spiny forest reservesMadagascar455 records
  2. Andasibe-Mantadia NPMadagascar409 records
  3. Ranomafana NPMadagascar336 records
More places
  1. Berenty ReserveMadagascar317 records
  2. Zombitse-Vohibasia NPMadagascar278 records
  3. Ankarafantsika NPMadagascar265 records
  4. Andasibe Mantadia National ParkMadagascar231 records
  5. PerinetMadagascar208 records
  6. Ankarafantsika – Circuit CoquereliMadagascar204 records
  7. Ankarafantsika Park HeadquartersMadagascar195 records

Countries and regions with the most records

MadagascarMauritius

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The lesser vasa parrot or black parrot (Coracopsis nigra) is a black coloured parrot endemic to most of Madagascar. It is one of four species of vasa parrots, the others being the greater vasa parrot (C. vasa), the Seychelles black parrot (C. barklyi), and the Comoros black parrot (C. sibilans). The latter two were formerly considered conspecific with the lesser vasa parrot.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Lesser Vasa Parrot?

The Lesser Vasa Parrot weighs around 186 g.

Where does the Lesser Vasa Parrot live?

Its breeding range: Africa: Madagascar. It is most often recorded in Madagascar and Mauritius.

When is the best time to see the Lesser Vasa Parrot?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Lesser Vasa Parrot endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Lesser Vasa Parrot as Vulnerable.

What does the Lesser Vasa Parrot eat?

Main food: Fruit.

What family is the Lesser Vasa Parrot in?

It belongs to the family Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae), order Parrot (Psittaciformes).

At a glance

Weight
186 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Fruit
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Vulnerable
More measurements
Wing
206 mm
Tail
149 mm
Bill
27 mm
Tarsus
20 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: Madagascar

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Parrot Psittaciformes
Family
Old World Parrots Psittaculidae
Genus
Coracopsis

Other birds in the genus Coracopsis

Greater Vasa ParrotGreater Vasa ParrotCoracopsis vasaSeychelles Black ParrotSeychelles Black ParrotCoracopsis barklyiComoro Black ParrotComoro Black ParrotCoracopsis sibilansPesquet's ParrotPesquet's ParrotPsittrichas fulgidusYellow-capped Pygmy ParrotYellow-capped Pygmy ParrotMicropsitta keiensisGeelvink Pygmy ParrotGeelvink Pygmy ParrotMicropsitta geelvinkianaBuff-faced Pygmy ParrotBuff-faced Pygmy ParrotMicropsitta pusioMeek's Pygmy ParrotMeek's Pygmy ParrotMicropsitta meekiFinsch's Pygmy ParrotFinsch's Pygmy ParrotMicropsitta finschiiRed-breasted Pygmy ParrotRed-breasted Pygmy ParrotMicropsitta bruijnii
Lesser Vasa Parrot

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by sabinaphilippe. ↗

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