Papuan King Parrot - Taxonomy

Taxonomy

First described by Australian ornithologist Edward Pierson Ramsay in 1879, the Papuan King Parrot is one of three species known as king parrots found in Australia, Papua New Guinea, and West Papua/Indonesia. Three subspecies are recognized:

• Alisterus chloropterus
  • Alisterus chloropterus chloropterus, the nominate subspecies, which occurs in eastern New Guinea to the Huon Peninsula in the north, and Hall Sound in the south.
  • Alisterus chloropterus callopterus is found in the Central Highlands west to the Weyland Mountains, the Sepik River area and upper Fly River.
  • Alisterus chloropterus moszkowskii is found in the north of the island, from Cenderawasih Bay east to the Aitape region.