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Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma) Alternate name(s): "Blue-faced Fig-Parrot", "Blue-browed Lorikeet", "Red-faced Lorikeet", "Fig Parrot" Size: 13-16 cm; wing span: 25-28 cm Body mass: 25-56 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.25-0.38

Australia: Family Group 12 Family Group 12 Table Palm Cockatoo Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Glossy Black-Cockatoo Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Short-billed Black-Cockatoo Long-billed Black-Cockatoo Gang-gang Cockatoo Long-billed Corella Western Corella Little Corella Cockatiel Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Pink Cockatoo Galah Rainbow Lorikeet Red-collared Lorikeet Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Purple-crowned Lorikeet Varied Lorikeet Musk Lorikeet Little Lorikeet Eclectus Parrot Red-cheeked Parrot Double-eyed Fig-Parrot Australian King-Parrot Red-winged Parrot Princess Parrot Superb Parrot Regent Parrot Green Rosella Crimson Rosella Western Rosella Eastern Rosella Pale-headed Rosella Northern Rosella Red-capped Parrot Australian Ringneck Red-rumped Parrot Mulga Parrot Golden-shouldered Parrot Hooded Parrot Blue Bonnet Bourke's Parrot Budgerigar Swift Parrot Eastern Ground Parrot Night Parrot Blue-winged Parrot Scarlet-chested Parrot Rock Parrot Turquoise Parrot Elegant Parrot Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Thumbnails page Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Double-eyed Fig-Parrots are the smallest Australian parrots. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. there is a slight difference between males and females. Males have more colourful facial markings, with red patches, while female Double-eyed Fig-Parrots have more bluish-grey facial markings. Only in race "coxeni" the two sexes are basically indistinguishable. Apart from the head, the plumage is mostly green, except for yellow leading edges of the wings and the tips of the folded flight feathers, which are dark-blue. On the wings there is a small red patch. The underwings have a wide green leading edge, yellow inner coverts and dark-grey flight feathers. Double-eyed Fig-Parrots have a very short tail. The irises are black, the bill, legs and feet are grey. Juveniles have paler facial colours than adults and a pale-grey bill.

Taxonomy, classification See Double-eyed Fig-Parrot at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Double-eyed Fig-Parrot is available HERE . There are in total eight races of Double-eyed Fig-Parrots, five of which are found in the area from West Papua to Papua New Guinea. The remaining three races are found in Australia. Race "marshalli" populates the eastern part of the tip of Cape York peninsula, QLD, from about Cape Melville to the southern end of Jardine River NP. Races "macleayana" and "coxeni" are endemic to Australia. Race "macleayana" is found along the East coast of northern QLD, in an area that is a few hundred km long and centred roughly on Cairns, QLD, extending from about the Burdekin River to Daintree NP. Race "coxeni" is restricted to the coastal and near-coastal region up to a few hundred kilometres from Brisbane, QLD. This race is rare and considered endangered. Double-eyed Fig-Parrots are found in tropical and subtropical rainforest, especially near trees with fruit (such as e.g. fig trees) and near fruit-bearing trees in tropical and subtropical gardens.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "macleayana" R. Russell reports spotting Double-eyed Fig-Parrots, race "macleayana", semi-regularly at Mount Molloy, QLD, e.g. in April 2012. B. Hensen reports spotting Double-eyed Fig-Parrots, race "macleayana", at Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, in July 2013. M. Eaton found Double-eyed Fig-Parrots, race "macleayana", at the Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, in December 2018. Others were found at Centenary Lakes, Cairns, QLD, in October 2024. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours found Double-eyed Fig-Parrots, race "macleayana", at Yungaburra, QLD, in December 2019 and again in August 2020. A flock of 100-150 birds was found at Lake Barrine, Atherton Tablelands, QLD, in April 2022.

Photos

Race "macleayana"

This race is also called "Macleay's Fig-Parrot".

ADULT

PAIR

Many bird species exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e., male and female have differing appearances which can be quite subtle.
Male Double-eyed Fig-Parrots, left, have darker blue lores than females and extended red cheek patches that females don't have.

Some Double-eyed Fig-Parrot "TLC", which is a bonding ritual between male and female
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Yungaburra, QLD, December 2019]

MALE

Close-up frontal portrait of a male Double-eyed Fig-Parrot; note the red cheeks
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Yungaburra, QLD, August 2020]

Full-frontal view of a male Double-eyed Fig-Parrot eating a native fig (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Yungaburra, QLD, December 2019]

Frontal view of a male Double-eyed Fig-Parrot looking sideways (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Yungaburra, QLD, August 2020]

Near-lateral view of a male Double-eyed Fig-Parrot eating a native fig (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Yungaburra, QLD, December 2019]

Near-lateral view of a male Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, July 2013]

Lateral view of a male Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, July 2013]

Male Double-eyed Fig-Parrot checking out a potential nesting hollow (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, July 2013]

FEMALE

Close-up frontal view of a female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot; note the blue cheek patch (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Centenary Lakes, Cairns, QLD, October 2024]

Frontal view of a female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

Near-frontal view of a female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

Close-up near-frontal view of a female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot eating a native fig
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Yungaburra, QLD, December 2019]

Near-lateral portrait of a female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

Close-up near-lateral view of a female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Centenary Lakes, Cairns, QLD, October 2024]

Lateral view of a female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Centenary Lakes, Cairns, QLD, October 2024]

Lateral view of a female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Centenary Lakes, Cairns, QLD, October 2024]

Lateral view of a female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Centenary Lakes, Cairns, QLD, October 2024]

Close-up lateral view of a female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot eating a native fig (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Yungaburra, QLD, December 2019]

Lateral view of a female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, July 2013]

View onto the upperparts of a female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

Female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot checking out a potential nesting hollow (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Rocky Creek, Cairns, QLD, July 2013]

Dorsal view of a female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Ventral view of a juvenile Double-eyed Fig-Parrot; note the pale bill (photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Yungaburra, QLD, August 2020]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Nomadic

Elementary unit: Pair/family clan/flock

Some Double-eyed Fig-Parrot "TLC", which is a bonding ritual between male and female
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Yungaburra, QLD, December 2019]

Food, Diet

Double-Eyed Fig-Parrots feed primarily on fruit, such as e.g. Australian native figs and other berries, but also on nectar and seeds.

Male Double-eyed Fig-Parrot feasting on native figs (photo courtesy of R. Russell)
[Mount Molloy, QLD, April 2012]

Female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot feasting on native figs (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

Female Double-eyed Fig-Parrot feasting on native figs (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, December 2018]

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