Lesser Vasa Parrot or Black Parrot (Coracopsis nigra)

newtoparrots

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Ok I am looking at buying this from some people (Lesser Vasa Parrot or Black Parrot Coracopsis nigra). So I started looking online for info, not to much on them out there. But the main thing I am looking at is diet. They are feeding it some home made kind of fruit mixer. Is that all the diet, I can't find any info or care sheets on them online. Any info would be great.
 

greycloud

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Hi, Vasa parrots are great birds! They are playful and can talk. One difference with them compared to other parrots is the actual body change they go through during breeding season. The female loses feathers on her head and also has an actualy skin color change and beak color change. The male has a hemi-penis. This protrudes during breeding season. I have a freind who owns a male. I will try to contact her for you about diet requirements.
Here is my friends page on Vasa parrots. It gives excellent info on visual sex change, diet issues and personality. On the column on the left you can click on any subject. Excellent photos to view to. There is also a Contact Me section. She would be glad to talk with you!
http://kawaldie.googlepages.com/
 
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madparrotwoman

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Wow, can't wait to see some pics of this little guy!

I'm not sure on the bird's diet but if you can find out which country and area he is from that should give you a clue as to his diet in the wild. All parrots love nuts, fruit, vegetables and seeds so this is what I would be giving him. Why not go to the site or shop where you are planning to buy his food and take a look at what they stock. IMO the best diet for any parrot is as varied as you can make it as for sure this is how it would be in the wild but take care not to give it any of the usual forbidden stuff eg. advocados, mushroom, chocolate, fruit pips/stones.

This is how I would play it: If you find your bird is from eg. Africa or Australia I would get a good quality parrot mix for African or Australian parrots. I would suppliment this with a pellet mix such as Harrisons (this would ensure a vitamin intake. I would also be giving vegetables and/or fruit daily, scrambled egg once a week. You could also bake birdy bread (Harrisons do one) to give weekly of fortnighly. Try changing his food around to make it as varied as possible and never give up looking for different ideas to give - even if only as treats.
 

greycloud

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Sterling-CAG-rehomed retired breeder.
Sunshine-12 yo CAG-adopted
LOL! When she first got Eve, she thought it was a female! Then the hemi-penis appeared and she was rushing the bird to the vets for a prolapse uterus! Needless to say she has really come along way since then. She is a spokesperson for Vasa Parrots and really educates many about these strang but wonderful parrots!
 
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newtoparrots

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THANK YOU TO ALL who reply. I just e-mail the lady in the link and waiting for her reply.
 

Bobby34231

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Oh My:eek:, during the breeding season the female looks like a vulture with that bald head....lol, I saw a couple articles relating to them having meat in their diet stating the vasa was somehow a link between parrots and raptors, alot of varying info, most do agree on fruits veggies and seed as a major part of the diet though, did also notice that most everything is in relation to the Greater vasa and not the Lessor, don't know that it would be much different, good luck :)
 
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newtoparrots

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Oh My:eek:, during the breeding season the female looks like a vulture with that bald head....lol, I saw a couple articles relating to them having meat in their diet stating the vasa was somehow a link between parrots and raptors, alot of varying info, most do agree on fruits veggies and seed as a major part of the diet though, did also notice that most everything is in relation to the Greater vasa and not the Lessor, don't know that it would be much different, good luck :)

See this is why I asked.
 

samiam

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I see that this post is not very old at all, I came upon it while browsing the internet for anything on Lesser Vasa, so I joined.

Did you end up getting the Lesser Vasa?

I have a female, maybe I can help answer any questions.

Feel free to PM me your e-mail adress if you prefer. I try to remember to check out forums, but lately I have not been too active on them.
 
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samiam

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Lesser Vasa have some similarities to the Greater, but are also quite different. They are not believed to be predatory, though they can fly very well like the Greater.

Their beak seems to be much finer then the Greater, my bird can barely break the skin and her bite does not have much pressure, it is more like a pinch with the biggest damange being comparable to a scratch. I can't imagine such a bird ripping flesh, let alone killing it. She is a wild caught, and though she has tamed down quite a bit, you can still tell that she is trying her hardest to bite when she has to be restrained, like to clip nails. The feet and also quite delicate with thin little toes.

The Lesser does eat alot of fruit in the wild, though I would not feel right just feeding it a fruit mix like I think you mentioned in the first post. Mine gets sprouted seeds and grains, veggies (sweet potato, carrot, kale, broccoli, etc), fruits (berries, mango, papaya, figs, etc) some cooked graines like quinoa and rice as well as some pellets to round it off and somtimes som dry seed mix. She can't crack nuts, and doesn't seem interested in nut pieces either. She is not interested in animal based proteins (eggs, meat) even during breeding time. These birds can really pack it down, and can eat more then you might expect from a bird their size.

Before they molt, their feathers will look like crap. This is normal, they disintegrate. The head does not go bald like the Greater Vasa, but I have noticed with mine that the feathers get really thin, just a little more then the shaft is left by the time they fall out. Still the bird does not look bald, just ragged. Look at the pics below, this is not over preening, it happens before the molt.

The male has a hemi-penis like the Greater. The female's cloaca may also swell during breeding time (see pics below). The pictures depiect maybe 3/4-4/5 the biggest size. During this time cloacal eversion may also happen in female's when they defecate, this is normal. The eversion is more red then the cloaca, don't be alarmed!

The beak will also change like a Greater, light for breeding gradually getting darker. The female Lesser Vasa doesn't seem to be as demanding of her mate as the Greater. I have noticed with my female that she does not have an aggressive bone in her body, and after talking to a breeder she also confirmed that they are not as demanding as the Greater Vasa hen is towards the male(s). She also told me that they seem to work as a team more so then the Greater, or at least that is what I had understood I may have misunderstood. Unfortunately, I deleted the e-mail account her messages were on because of a spam problem, forgetting to copy them and even after reactivating the account they are gone. I was pretty po'd.

Hope that helps you a bit. It would be great to have another Lesser Vasa to compare notes with.

Nice feathering
keelyvasa.jpg


Just before or during molt (notice how ragged and dull the feathers are)
001.jpg


Cloacal swelling (during the rest of the year it's like any other parrot)
015.jpg


Outside (I just had to show her off in her harness ! LOL) Coming out of breeding season, light beak and going into molt, feather starting to get scruffy. Notice the brownish tinge. The feathers turn this color on the onset of breeding season and stay this way until they fall out. The second picture does not depict the true color because of the flash. The color is more a greasy look, so it does not always show up great in pictures. It is thought that the color chage is due to a change in the chemistry of the uropygial gland's oil.

DCFN0001c-1.jpg


Oh I forgot to ad that the Lesser Vasa sings, here is a clip. She will sing alot more during breeding season.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G19REJAgj3w[/ame]

I hope to hear from you soon and if you got the Vasa! What country are you from?
 
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newtoparrots

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Yes I will be getting him/her on Aug 1 and will take some PICS and will post them. Look like a lesser to me but we will see if it is went I get her.
 

samiam

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Yes I will be getting him/her on Aug 1 and will take some PICS and will post them.

I can't wait to see some pics. Was the person selling her able to show you some pictures? Did the bird have a black cere in any of them? If it did, then it is likely a male. According to two breeders I spoke with, only the male Lesser Vasa's cere will turn black during breeding season.

Look like a lesser to me but we will see if it is went I get her.

It's funny that you say that. My bird was listed as a Greater Vasa so I got quite the surprise when I went to pic her up! Would the person selling her mind if you shared any photos they may have sent you?

Do you know if she is captive bred or not? Is she tame/handfed?
 
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newtoparrots

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I will go back and see it again today. No need for PICS to be send to me. Found it in my town. Just saving up for a bigger cage then what he/she is in. (to small for my liking)

he/She is banded and will come out and sit on your hand. Now I really can wait for the new cage to come in now so I can go get it
 

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