Dracula parrot: The goth bird whose piercing screams echo through New Guinea forests

By Lydia Smith published 6 hours ago

Pesquet's parrot, also known as a Dracula parrot, resembles a vulture and has a distinct scream — but its favorite food is figs.



Pesquet's parrot is more commonly called the Dracula parrot, in part because of its striking plumage. (Image credit: Iggino Van Bael via Alamy)

Name: Dracula parrot (Psittrichas fulgidus)

Where it lives: New Guinea

What it eats: Figs, flowers and nectar

Why it's awesome: The Pesquet's parrot is more famously known as the Dracula parrot — and with its mix of jet-black and blood-red feathers, it's easy to see why. They also sound
terrifying, as their piercing screams echo through the rainforests of New Guinea.

Dracula parrots grow to around 18 inches (46 centimeters) long and weigh between 1.3 and 1.8 lbs (600 and 800 grams). They can live for around 20 to 40 years. Their plumage is mostly black and dark grey, but they sport red feathers around the belly, tail and wings. Adult males have red patches behind their eyes, which distinguishes them from females.

The species' guttural, rasping screams are very distinct. Unlike the chirps or squawks of typical parrots, the call of the Dracula parrot is a harsh screech that sounds more like a mythical predator than a fruit-eating bird. This unusual sound likely evolved as a way for the birds to communicate across the dense forests of New Guinea, and possibly to deter potential threats.

https://www.livescience.com/animals/birds/dracula-parrot-the-goth-bird-whose-piercing-screams-echo-through-new-guinea-forests