Using the Roberts bird books on my shelf I have tried to trace the emergence of the Cape Parrot name, as we know it today. I scanned the maps from the books. The caption on the map indicates which version of Roberts that the map comes from. I have also selected some of the information that helps place the thinking at that time. The name at the top of each “blurb” is the name used for that edition. The map of the Brown-necked Parrot from the Roberts Bird Guide 2nd edition still indicates that the Cape and Brown-necked parrots share a similar distribution. I will describe in a later post that this is no longer thought to be the case.
| Brown-necked Parrot Poicephalus robustus Distribution: Alexandria forest eastwards to Natal and Zoutpansberg; Damaraland and Rhodesia northwards to West Africa and Tanzania. Habits: Not uncommon, but rather restricted in its habitat, being common in some areas and rare in others quite close by. Essentially a bird of the forests and thick bush. |
| Cape Parrot(Brown-necked Parrot) Poicephalus robustus Distribution: Africa S of Sahara; in s Africa confined to E, SE and Caprivi. Habitat: Evergreen and riverine forest, well developed woodland. Roosts and nests above 900 m in most of S Africa, but in Baobab and riverine woodland in Limpopo Valley; roosts singly, not in flocks. May fly over 100 km to feeding areas, usually lower-lying and coastal forests, using set flight paths; forages by clambering about high in trees. |
| Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus Status: Locally common to rare nomadic resident; seasonal migrant in n Zimbabwe, August to December. Vulnerable (RDB). Northern subspecies P. r. suahe- licus has grey head and probably discontinuous distribution, so could be separate species. |
| Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus STATUS Rare and localised endemic with a total population of under 1000 birds (2004). Regarded as Endangered with numbers still decreasing due to low br success and losses to captive bird trade. Sedentary but undertakes long-distance feeding forays between forests. Usually in small flocks or family groups. HABITAT Afromontane forest; occasionally forages elsewhere, such as in pecan nut plantations. |
| Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus Blurb almost identical to 1st edition Roberts Bird Guide |
| Brown-necked Parrot Poicephalus fuscicollis Habitat Riparian and lowland savanna, usually with Baobab trees; does not usually enter Afromontane forest in our region. Food Primarily kernels of unripe fruit from Marula (Sclerocarya), Mobola Plum (Parinari), Nyala-tree (Xanthocercis), and corkwoods (Commiphora); also fruit flesh. Br Nests high in Baobab cavities. |