Is the Dracula Parrot Real? (Find Out!)

Did you know that there’s an entire subset of people who believe that vampires truely do exist?

Not only are there people that believe in vampires, but there are people out there who are living as vampires themselves – sleeping during the day, coming alive at night, adding fangs to their teeth, and yes, even drinking blood.

But while I cannot honestly tell you that I believe human vampires are real, I can tell you that I believe in Dracula – no, not the person, but the parrot.

But is the Dracula parrot real?

The answer to this question is yes! The Dracula parrot really does exist. With the body of a parrot and the head of a vulture, this bird is both beautiful and intimidating at the same (what else would you expect from a parrot named Dracula?).

Is the name Dracula an accurate representation for this parrot?

Or are they gentle parrots with a rough exterior?

Today we will answer all of your questions about the Dracula parrot including where they come from, how they got their name, and whether you can own one as a pet.

So let’s not waste another minute!

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What is the Dracula Parrot?

Sometimes referred to as the Pesquet’s parrot, or more formally known as Psittrichas Fulgidus, the Dracula parrot is a gothic looking bird that is native to the rainforests of New Guinea.

Just by looking at the parrot it’s no surprise where it gets its name.

The Dracula has a black parrot-like body with a blood red underbelly and the head of a vulture.

In fact, the appearance of this ominous bird is much more like a vulture than a parrot, with a bald, black head, and a long pointed beak.

But while the Dracula parrot may mimic the look of a blood sucking Dracula being, it’s really anything but.

Despite it’s vulture-like appearance, the Dracula parrot maintains a diet of mostly figs and sweet fruits.

With that being said, aside from its appearance, there is one other thing that makes “Dracula” a fitting name for this parrot – the horrifying sounds it makes.

The call of the Dracula parrot is one that has long been defined as harsh and rasping.

And according to experts, the Dracula parrot is also known to scream frequently during flight – probably not a sound you’d want waking you up in the middle of the night.

Dracula Parrot Quick Facts.

Did you know?

The only places in the world that you can find the Dracula parrot are in the cloud forest, foothills, and lower mountains of New Guinea.

The Dracula parrot is the size of a small child when full grown, reaching lengths of 18 inches and almost 1 meter from beak to tail.

They weigh between 600-800 grams, making them on the heavier side of parrots.

The Dracula parrot has no feathers on its face

Dracula parrots are thought to be a social species and are usually found travelling in pairs.

It’s also not abnormal to see them travel in larger groups of 20 or more.

The only difference between male and female Dracula parrots is that males usually have a red dot on their head, slightly behind the eyes.

Females do not have this same mark.

Dracula parrots are known to jump from branch to branch when scavenging through trees

Why haven’t I heard of the Dracula parrot before?

If you haven’t heard of the Dracula parrot before, it’s probably for good reason.

Sadly, there are very few Dracula parrots left in the world today.

In fact, the Dracula parrot has long made the endangered species list due to human invasion of their environment.

And despite the name, Dracula parrots are not the hunters, but rather the hunted.

Sadly, hunting has also helped to put this species of parrot on the endangered species list.

It’s the feathers of these beautiful birds that have made them popular among hunters, often being used in traditional dress ceremonies.

Though less often, the Dracula parrot is also hunted for trade and meat.

Sadly, as hunting grows the Dracula parrot population decreases.

To date it’s unknown exactly how many Dracula parrots exist in the wild, but it has been reported that the parrot has undergone a “moderately rapid decline” over the last 27 years.

It was in 1994 that the Dracula parrot made the vulnerable species list, and researchers continue to monitor the population of the breed as time progresses.

It’s estimated that there are currently between twenty thousand to forty-nine thousand Dracula parrots living in the wild today.

Very few zoos around the world house this species of parrot.

The good news is that Dracula parrots have a habitat in Central and Western Papua New Guinea in which the human population is low, the land is dense, and hunting is uncommon.

It’s here that the Dracula parrot flourishes the most, and will hopefully continue to thrive as long as humans stay away.

Do Dracula parrots make good pets?

Whether or not Dracula Parrots make good pets is actually unknown because due to their dwindling numbers, you’re not actually allowed to own one.

This species has been evaluated by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) as vulnerable and has made the list of threatened species.

In return, you are not allowed to keep one as a pet.

Even if you could keep one as a pet, it would be unlikely that you would be able to find one.

With that being said, though we can’t keep a Dracula Parrot as a pet, we can speculate on what it would be like to own one.

Though I’m sure this parrot would attract a lot of attention, it probably wouldn’t make a great pet.

Not only would they require a great deal of space due to their large size, but they are also considered very noisy.

While some parrots talk, this parrot screeches – which is a sound that no one wants to hear at three o’clock in the morning.

Are there any Vampiric birds?

Yes! The Dracula parrot is named for its appearance, not for any vampiric traits.

In other words, it doesn’t suck or draw blood from any other species.

In fact, it doesn’t eat meat or drink blood at all and much prefers a diet of figs and fruits.

There are, however, other types of birds out there that could be classed as Vampiric.

Take the Vampire Finch, for example.

Though the Finch is probably one of the last birds that you would expect to draw blood, there is one species that does exactly that.

There are currently 15 different types of Finch living in the world, with only one that has a taste for blood.

It’s aptly been named the “Vampire Finch”.

Living in the Galapagos Islands, these finches are known to go after the blood of other birds.

Why? According to researchers, Vampire Finches are very similar to other finches with only one difference between them – there is no fresh water on their native islands.

As a result, these finches have been forced to find fluids elsewhere – and it just happens to be the blood of other birds that helps to keep them alive.

Another bird that better suits the Vampire name is the Kea bird.

This bird is native to New Zealand and is actually an omnivore (eats meat).

Their main prey are sheep for which they rip off the wool and tear off the fat underneath it.

Other animals in this bird’s line of prey include other livestock, rabbits, and chicks.

In conclusion, yes, the Dracula parrot is a real parrot but it’s name is not really fitting.

Though the Dracula parrot does have an intimidating look, it much prefers fresh fruit over fresh blood.

Sadly, the Dracula parrot has made the vulnerable species list due to things like environmental damage and poaching.

It is not legal to keep them as pets, and is better for us to admire from afar!