Sri Lanka Hanging-Parrot

The Sri Lanka hanging-parrot is a small resident endemic parrot, 13 cm long with a short tail. The adult has a red crown and rump, an orange tint on the nape and back, a pale blue chin and throat, a red beak and white irises. Immatures lack the orange hue, have a duller rump and orange beaks with brown irises (Wikipedia, species account).

It is less gregarious than some relatives, usually alone or in small groups outside the breeding season. Its flight is swift and direct and the call is a sharp whistled twiwittwit. It is strictly arboreal, never descending to the ground, and makes local movements according to the availability of the fruit, seeds, buds and blossoms it eats. It nests in tree holes, laying 2 to 3 eggs. Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).