Distributional range
Endemic to South Africa. Associated with Afromontane Afrocarpus/Podocarpus forests with a discontinuous distribution from Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape through to the Karkloof in KwaZulu-Natal (Wirminghaus 1997; Wirminghaus et al. 1999; Wirminghaus et al. 2000a; Wirminghaus et al. 2000b), with a small relict population in the Limpopo Province (Harrison et al. 1997; Wirminghaus et al. 1999).
Breeds in Afromontane forests above 1000m (Skead 1964; Wirminghaus et al. 1999, Wirminghaus et al., in press b).
Important forests are those in the Eastern Cape (the Amatole forest complex, Mkambati Nature Reserve, Insikeni and forests around Umtata and Port St. Johns) and in the KwaZulu-Natal Mistbelt Forests (Barnes 1998; C.T. Downs, unpubl. data).
Distribution and photographs of the Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus relative to its two closest congeners, Grey-headed Parrot P. fuscicollis suahelicus, and Brown-necked Parrot P. fuscicollis fuscicollis.
Habitat associations
Primarily associated with Afromontane forest but are not confined to it as they occasionally fly to other habitats in search of food (Skead 1964; Rowan 1983).
Afromontane forests are dominated by Afrocarpus/Podocarpus species and occur at 1000-1500m altitude, on steep, south-facing slopes on dolerite ridges that receive frequent mist in the summer and mean annual rainfall of >1000mm.
Yellowwood trees, particularly Afrocarpus falcatus (a forest canopy tree), are important for breeding, feeding and social interactions (Wirminghaus et al. 2000a).
