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Vampire finch5/17/2023 ![]() ![]() Then, use this handy calculator to determine just how long humanity could last in the face of a vampire apocalypse.The American vampire finch ( Geospiza vespertilio) is a species of bird in the family Thraupidae and one of the Darwin's finches that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, open woodlands, grasslands, shrublands, and scrublands across mainland North America and South America to help boost biodiversity. ![]() With those critters in mind, perhaps the Dracula parrot with its innocent diet of sweet fruit is not so aptly named after all.Īfter this look at Pesquet's parrot, meet Alex the parrot and decide if he was, indeed, the world's smartest bird. Other hematophagous critters include vampire bats and the eel-like lamprey - sometimes referred to as a vampire fish. Then they dig in - tearing through the flesh and picking out the fat from the sheep's back. A Kea will use its curved beak to rip the wool right off a sheep's back and get to the bare skin. This crazy bird is one of ten parrots native to New Zealand. That's pretty savage, but not quite as brutal as the Kea. Vampire finches peck at the tail feathers of other birds to draw blood, like a wood pecker taps a tree for bugs. The vampire finch of the Galápagos Islands is a bloodthirsty species that will ruthlessly target bigger birds, like Nazcas or blue-footed boobies, specifically for their blood. ![]() You'll be happy to know that there are actual birds out there that do practice hematophagy - or feeding on blood. Perhaps the Dracula parrot, with its innocuous eating habits, didn't fully satisfy your bloodlust. This, along with the usual blight of habitat loss due to the logging industry, has left the Dracula parrot with a "vulnerable" status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) list of threatened species. Its wings are highly prized in certain indigenous markets and its chicks command very high prices, too. They are known to give out haunting calls that have been described as harsh, raspy, and growling, and they can be heard from quite long distances.Įxperience the Pesquet's parrot's eerie scream here.ĭespite its name, the Dracula parrot is the hunt ed and not the hunt er. Instead, they jump from branch to branch. Unlike other parrots, these birds don't climb branches to move around in trees. When in flight, Pesquet's parrots alternate between rapidly flapping their wings and enjoying short glides. Researchers have gleaned that females lay up to two eggs at a time in a nest inside a big, hollow tree.ĭracula parrots appear to be somewhat social and are typically spotted in pairs or sometimes large groups of up to 20. Not much is known about the Dracula parrot's breeding habits in the wild. One telltale mark is that most males have a red spot on their heads behind their eyes. There is very little difference between male and female Dracula parrots. Size, Behaviors, And An Uncertain Futureĭracula parrots are fairly large, clocking in at 18 inches long and weighing between 24 and 28 ounces. Like vultures, the Dracula parrot has evolved to lose the feathers on its head so that it doesn't get messy with the sticky syrup of figs. However, nectar and certain flowers have also been known to frequent the diet of these frugivores. This parrot feasts mainly on a sticky species of hard-to-find figs, the rarity of which endangers its survival. Pesquet's Parrots Are Picky Eatersīesides its resemblance, that's about all the Dracula parrot has in common with vultures. Outside of this, there are only a few zoos worldwide that house the creepy vulturine parrot. These ominous looking birds are only native to the mountainous rainforests of the island of New Guinea in the wider geographical Pacific area known as Oceania. It's truly one-of-a-kind - and the resemblance it bears to Dracula is somewhat uncanny. ![]() Experience the Dracula - or Pesquet's - parrot in its natural habitat.įormally called Pesquet's parrot or Psittrichas fulgidus, this sinister-looking bird is the only member of its genus and its genus is the only member of its subfamily. ![]()
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