The red-capped parrot (Purpureicephalus spurius) is a species of broad- tailed parrot native to southwest Western Australia. Described by Heinrich Kuhl in 1820, it is classified in its own genus owing to its distinctive elongated beak. Its closest relative is the mulga parrot. It is not easily confused with other parrot species; both adult sexes have a bright crimson crown, green-yellow cheeks, and a distinctive long bill. The wings, back, and long tail are dark green, and the underparts are purple-blue. Found in woodland and open savanna country, the red- capped parrot consumes seeds (particularly of eucalypts), flowers, berries, and occasionally insects. Nesting takes place in tree hollows. Although the red-capped parrot has been shot as a pest, and affected by land clearing, the population is growing and the species is not threatened. In captivity, it has a reputation of being both anxious and difficult to breed.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-capped_parrot

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1864:

American Civil War: The inconclusive Battle of Spotsylvania Court House in Virginia ended with combined Union and Confederate casualties totaling around 31,000. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Spotsylvania_Court_House

1894:

The Manchester Ship Canal, linking Manchester in North West England to the Irish Sea, officially opened, becoming the world's largest navigation canal at the time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Ship_Canal

1925:

The opera Doktor Faust, unfinished when composer Ferruccio Busoni died, was premiered in Dresden. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doktor_Faust

2014:

A Taiwanese man carried out a stabbing spree on a Taipei Metro train, killing four people and injuring 24 others. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Taipei_Metro_attack

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

Afrasian: 1. Of or relating to both Africa and Asia. 2. (linguistics, specifically) Synonym of Afroasiatic (“of, pertaining to, or being a language family spoken in northern Africa and southwest Asia, and including Berber, Chadic, Cushitic, Egyptian, Semitic, and possibly Omotic languages”) 3. A thing that relates to both Africa and Asia. 4. (linguistics) A person who comes from a region where Afroasiatic languages are spoken. 5. (linguistics, uncommon) Synonym of Afroasiatic (“the language family spoken in northern Africa and southwest Asia, and including Berber, Chadic, Cushitic, Egyptian, Semitic, and possibly Omotic languages”) https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Afrasian

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Oh, happiness! Our being’s end and aim! Good, pleasure, ease, content! whate’er thy name: That something still which prompts the eternal sigh, For which we bear to live, or dare to die, Which still so near us, yet beyond us lies, O’erlooked, seen double, by the fool, and wise. Plant of celestial seed! if dropped below, Say, in what mortal soil thou deign’st to grow? … Where grows? — where grows it not? If vain our toil, We ought to blame the culture, not the soil: Fixed to no spot is happiness sincere, ’Tis nowhere to be found, or everywhere; ’Tis never to be bought, but always free, And fled from monarchs, St. John! dwells with thee.   --An Essay on Man https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/An_Essay_on_Man