The Dracula parrot is not a creature that feasts on blood and fears sunlight as its name suggests. Rather, it is a spectacular species of parrot that lives in the rainforests of New Guinea.
Beautiful to behold, these parrots bear a resemblance to vultures; yet their most striking feature is their black and red feathers—colors reminiscent of the vampire count, as portrayed in Hollywood.
Due to poachers and demand for their beautiful plumage, however, these incredible birds are now vulnerable to extinction.
These rare birds live in the rainforest-covered mountainous hills of New Guinea and tend to live in pairs but have been seen in groups of up to 14. They build their nests in hollow trees and lay up to two eggs at a time. Far from consuming blood, the Dracula parrot’s favorite food is a particular type of fig. The birds have a lifespan of about 20 years.
Their feathers are used by the local population “for ornamentation, particularly in ceremonial headdresses, in much of the Papua New Guinea Highlands and, in some areas, for skins, which are used as bride prices,” according to the IUCN.
On the bright side, the species is not threatened by deforestation, as loggers usually avoid fig trees, thus preserving the vulturine parrot’s food of choice.
“They are absolutely GORGEOUS and deserve to live and to flourish. I read that people hunt and kill them. That is SO wrong,” one comment read.
