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🦜 Species of the Month for October

Greater Vasa Parrot (Coracopsis vasa)

October's feature goes to one of the most unusual parrots you're ever likely to meet. The Greater Vasa doesn't look like a typical parrot, doesn't behave like one, and honestly seems quite happy to break every rule in the book.

Did you know?

In breeding season, female Vasas lose the feathers on their head and their bare skin turns a bright golden-orange. It's a dramatic look, and it's completely normal. Females also tend to run the show in this species, which is rare in the bird world.

📏 Size: Around 50 cm (20 inches) — a big, sturdy bird with a slightly prehistoric look about it.

🎂 Lifespan: 30–40 years with good care. A long-term commitment, like so many parrots.

🧠 Personality: Curious, active, and quirky. They love to sunbathe with their wings spread wide, happily roll around in dust or water, and approach life with a laid-back confidence. They're not as common in homes as other species, so they tend to surprise people who meet one for the first time.

🌍 Native To: Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, where they live in forests, woodland, and savannah.

🌿 Support Tip: Vasa parrots are rarely kept, and most in captivity live with specialist breeders, zoos, and bird parks. In the wild, their forest homes in Madagascar are shrinking through deforestation, and trapping remains a threat. Supporting habitat protection and only ever choosing responsibly captive-bred birds helps make sure this wonderfully odd species keeps thriving where it belongs.