Parrot birds of New Caledonia 2005

New Caledonia Post collaborated with Birdlife International Organization to issue stamps features the protected Parrot bird of their country on year 2005.The stamps comprised of 3 pieces stamps that depicted Uvea Parakeet, New Caledonian Parakeet, and Horned Parakeet.

Uvea Parakeet or Eunymphicus uvaeensis is a medium sized parakeet that endemic to the island of Uvea in the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia. The Uvea parakeet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family.  The Uvea Parakeet have specific characteristic with mostly green plumage and a prominent green crest. The crest is composed of six backward feathers that curl forwards. The underside of the bird tends to be yellower and there is bright blue on the wings and tail. The face is dark and the beak is black.The Uvea parakeet is threatened by habitat loss and the pet trade.

The New Caledonian Parakeet (Cyanoramphus saisseti) or New Caledonian Red-crowned Parakeet, is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family that endemic to New Caledonia. The species  is now considered a species   in the genus Cyanoramphus, which had its origins in New Caledonia.Their natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist mountain forests, dry savanna, and subtropical or tropical moist shrubland.

The Horned Parakeet (Eunymphicus cornutus) is a largely green parakeet endemic to New Caledonia. It is called Horned because it has two black feathers that protrude from the head and have red tips. This parakeet has a yellowish nape with a black and red face and bluish wings and tail.

The Horned Parakeet lives humid pine forests on New Caledonia, especially when Agathis and Araucaria pines are present. They live in pairs or small flocks and forage for seeds and nuts in the canopy. It nests both on the ground and in trees.This bird has declined since the 1880s, but it is still found in a wide range on New Caledonia and recent population estimates believe that there are over 2500 birds left.