Quick answer
IUCN status: Least ConcernMoluccan king parrot at a glance
The Moluccan king parrot (Alisterus amboinensis) is a bird in the family Psittacidae. Range in Indonesia: Maluku, North Maluku, Peleng (Central Sulawesi), the Sula Islands, the West Papuan islands and north-west New Guinea. It is endemic to Indonesia, living naturally only in Maluku and North Maluku (including Halmahera, Buru, Seram, Ambon and the Sula Islands), Peleng Island (Central Sulawesi), and the Raja Ampat Islands and Bird’s Head of Papua. Diet: lithocarpus acorns, hard fruit, berries, buds and seeds; a herbivore. IUCN Red List status: Least Concern. It is a legally protected species in Indonesia (Regulation P.106/2018).
| Scientific name | Alisterus amboinensis |
|---|---|
| Indonesian name | Nuri-raja ambon |
| Group | Birds |
| Family | Psittacidae |
| Range in Indonesia | Maluku, North Maluku, Peleng (Central Sulawesi), the Sula Islands, the West Papuan islands and north-west New Guinea |
| Linked habitats | Tropical Rainforests |
| Diet | Lithocarpus acorns, hard fruit, berries, buds and seeds |
| Range in Indonesia | Maluku, North Maluku, Peleng, Sula and north-west Papua |
| Key feature | Red head and underparts, blue back, green wings |
| Provincial identity animal | Maluku province |
| Other names | Nuri-raja ambon; Amboina or Ambon king parrot |
| IUCN status | Least Concern · IUCN Red List (via GBIF) · checked 1 October 2026 |
| Legal protection in Indonesia | Protected · Regulation P.106/2018 · annex no. 517 |
| Diet type | Herbivore (plant-eater) — Lithocarpus acorns, hard fruit, berries, buds, seeds and grain · World Parrot Trust |
| Reproduction | Laying eggs (oviparous) · Vigie-Nature École (MNHN) |
| Active | Diurnal (active by day) · Oiseaux.net (AVONET/Birds of the World traits) |
| Endemic to Indonesia | Yes — Maluku and North Maluku (including Halmahera, Buru, Seram, Ambon and the Sula Islands), Peleng Island (Central Sulawesi), and the Raja Ampat Islands and Bird’s Head of Papua · BirdLife DataZone |
In this guide (11)
What is the Moluccan king parrot?
The Moluccan king parrot (Alisterus amboinensis) is a parrot about 35 cm long with a red head and underparts, a violet-blue back and rump, and green wings. According to the World Parrot Trust, the upper bill is orange-red with a black tip and the lower bill is black. Young birds have a green back.
The World Parrot Trust lists six subspecies that differ in the colour of the wings, back and tail. Known in Maluku as nuri raja ambon, it is the identity animal of Maluku province, as listed on the West Sumatra provincial government's official website. BirdLife International assesses it as Least Concern.
Evidence: World Parrot Trust — Parrot Encyclopedia: Moluccan King Parrot (Alisterus amboinensis) ↗ · Pemerintah Provinsi Sumatera Barat (Humas, 2017) — Fauna Sekaligus Maskot Prov. Sumbar ↗ · BirdLife DataZone — Moluccan King-parrot Alisterus amboinensis species factsheet ↗
Where does the Moluccan king parrot live?
The Moluccan king parrot lives only in Indonesia: in Maluku, North Maluku, Peleng Island and western Papua. According to the World Parrot Trust, the nominate subspecies lives in the southern Moluccas except Buru, while other subspecies live on Buru, Halmahera, the Sula Islands, Peleng, the West Papuan islands and north-west New Guinea.
It lives in the canopy of dense, humid primary and secondary forest from the lowlands up to about 2,100 m. It sometimes visits plantations, farmland and gardens near forest. BirdLife International also lists lowland forest, montane forest and rural gardens as its habitats.
Evidence: World Parrot Trust — Parrot Encyclopedia: Moluccan King Parrot (Alisterus amboinensis) ↗ · BirdLife DataZone — Moluccan King-parrot Alisterus amboinensis species factsheet ↗ · Gembira Loka Zoo — Nuri Raja Ambon (Alisterus amboinensis) ↗
What does the Moluccan king parrot eat?
In the wild, the Moluccan king parrot eats Lithocarpus acorns, hard fruit, buds and berries from many kinds of trees. According to the World Parrot Trust, it also eats seeds and grain.
Gembira Loka Zoo lists fruit, nectar, plant shoots and seeds as its food. The bird trait databases cited by Oiseaux.net (Pigot et al. 2020; Tobias et al. 2021) class it as a fruit eater and omnivore. Because it feeds in the canopy and needs fruiting trees, it depends on forest that still has many large and varied trees, though it sometimes visits gardens.
Evidence: World Parrot Trust — Parrot Encyclopedia: Moluccan King Parrot (Alisterus amboinensis) ↗ · Gembira Loka Zoo — Nuri Raja Ambon (Alisterus amboinensis) ↗ · Oiseaux.net — Moluccan King Parrot, Alisterus amboinensis ↗
How does the Moluccan king parrot behave and breed?
The Moluccan king parrot lives in pairs or small groups, is shy and keeps to thick foliage. According to the World Parrot Trust, when approached it flies to cover, calling loudly. It has been seen flying out of the forest across cultivated land at dusk.
It breeds in February and March. The nest is in a hole in a large tree, and the female lays three eggs. Gembira Loka Zoo gives an incubation period of about 19 days. Its calls are high-pitched and slightly ringing; the male may repeat two notes every three seconds for up to 20 seconds, and both sexes also screech.
Evidence: World Parrot Trust — Parrot Encyclopedia: Moluccan King Parrot (Alisterus amboinensis) ↗ · Gembira Loka Zoo — Nuri Raja Ambon (Alisterus amboinensis) ↗
Is the Moluccan king parrot endangered?
The Moluccan king parrot is not globally threatened: BirdLife International assesses it as Least Concern. However, the World Parrot Trust says its population is suspected to be declining because of habitat destruction.
According to the World Parrot Trust, tree cover within its range is estimated to have fallen by 3.5% over the past three generations, so the population is suspected to have declined by 1–19% over the same period. It is also described as threatened on Halmahera and confined to primary forest on Taliabu in the Sula Islands. International trade is regulated under CITES Appendix II.
Evidence: BirdLife DataZone — Moluccan King-parrot Alisterus amboinensis species factsheet ↗ · World Parrot Trust — Parrot Encyclopedia: Moluccan King Parrot (Alisterus amboinensis) ↗
How can the Moluccan king parrot be protected?
The most important ways to protect the Moluccan king parrot are never to catch, buy or keep wild birds and to keep the forests of Maluku and Papua standing. Alisterus amboinensis is a protected species in the annex to regulation P.106/2018 (entry 517, nuri-raja ambon).
If you see one for sale in a market, a port or online, report it to the local conservation agency (BKSDA) or the police. It nests in holes in large trees and feeds in the canopy, so keeping old trees in forests and near gardens helps. As Maluku's identity animal, it can be taught in schools as a symbol that belongs in the wild.
Evidence: Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (lampiran) ↗ · World Parrot Trust — Parrot Encyclopedia: Moluccan King Parrot (Alisterus amboinensis) ↗ · Kompas.com (2023) — Daftar Fauna Identitas Setiap Provinsi di Indonesia (Wayback Machine copy) ↗
Explore related habitats
These habitat relationships are supported by species sources in this guide. This is not a complete range map.
Scientific classification of the Moluccan king parrot
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Psittaciformes |
| Family | Psittacidae |
| Genus | Alisterus |
| Species | Alisterus amboinensis |
Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology (for example class Reptilia).
Common questions about the Moluccan king parrot
What is the scientific name of the Moluccan king parrot?
The scientific name of the Moluccan king parrot is Alisterus amboinensis, in the family Psittacidae. In Indonesian it is called Nuri-raja ambon.
What kind of animal is the Moluccan king parrot?
The Moluccan king parrot is a bird in the family Psittacidae. By diet it is a herbivore (plant-eater): a Lithocarpus acorns, hard fruit, berries, buds, seeds and grain. It is also endemic to Indonesia.
Where does the Moluccan king parrot live in Indonesia?
In Indonesia, this guide records the Moluccan king parrot in: Maluku, North Maluku, Peleng (Central Sulawesi), the Sula Islands, the West Papuan islands and north-west New Guinea.
The Moluccan king parrot is endemic to Indonesia and lives naturally only in Maluku and North Maluku (including Halmahera, Buru, Seram, Ambon and the Sula Islands), Peleng Island (Central Sulawesi), and the Raja Ampat Islands and Bird’s Head of Papua. Source: BirdLife DataZone.
Source-supported habitats: Tropical Rainforests.
What does the Moluccan king parrot eat?
Diet of the Moluccan king parrot: lithocarpus acorns, hard fruit, berries, buds and seeds. That makes it a herbivore (plant-eater). Source: World Parrot Trust.
How does the Moluccan king parrot reproduce?
The Moluccan king parrot reproduces by laying eggs (oviparous). Source: Vigie-Nature École (MNHN).
Is the Moluccan king parrot nocturnal?
No. The Moluccan king parrot is diurnal (active by day). The World Parrot Trust notes it has been seen flying out of the forest at dusk, so it may sometimes also be active at night. Source: Oiseaux.net (AVONET/Birds of the World traits).
See also the list of nocturnal and diurnal animals in Indonesia.
What are the main features of the Moluccan king parrot?
Key features of the Moluccan king parrot, from this guide’s sources: Key feature: red head and underparts, blue back, green wings.
What is the scientific classification of the Moluccan king parrot?
Scientific classification of the Moluccan king parrot: kingdom Animalia, phylum Chordata, class Aves, order Psittaciformes, family Psittacidae, genus Alisterus, species Alisterus amboinensis.
Source: GBIF Backbone Taxonomy, adjusted to the ranks commonly used in school biology.
Is the Moluccan king parrot endangered?
No, according to the global IUCN assessment. On the IUCN Red List, the Moluccan king parrot is listed as Least Concern: it does not qualify for a threatened category or for Near Threatened in the global assessment. Source: IUCN Red List (via GBIF), checked 1 October 2026.
This global category is separate from national legal protection. Is the Moluccan king parrot protected in Indonesia?
Is the Moluccan king parrot protected in Indonesia?
Yes. The Moluccan king parrot (Alisterus amboinensis) is a protected species in Indonesia under Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 on protected plant and animal species (annex, entry 517).
Article 21(2) of Law No. 5 of 1990, as amended by Law No. 32 of 2024, prohibits anyone from hunting, catching, injuring, killing, storing, owning, keeping, transporting or trading a protected animal, alive or dead, including its body parts, eggs and nests.
If you see this animal being traded, kept or injured, contact the local BKSDA office.
Can the Moluccan king parrot be kept as a pet?
No. Because the Moluccan king parrot is a protected species, catching, owning, keeping, transporting or trading it without a permit is prohibited by law. Trading without a permit through electronic media is also prohibited.
If you see this animal for sale or being kept, report it to the local BKSDA office.
Sources & references
- BirdLife DataZone — Moluccan King-parrot Alisterus amboinensis species factsheet ↗
- World Parrot Trust — Parrot Encyclopedia: Moluccan King Parrot (Alisterus amboinensis) ↗
- Gembira Loka Zoo — Nuri Raja Ambon (Alisterus amboinensis) ↗
- Oiseaux.net — Moluccan King Parrot, Alisterus amboinensis ↗
- Pemerintah Provinsi Sumatera Barat (Humas, 2017) — Fauna Sekaligus Maskot Prov. Sumbar ↗
- Kompas.com (2023) — Daftar Fauna Identitas Setiap Provinsi di Indonesia (Wayback Machine copy) ↗
- Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan — Permen LHK P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 tentang Jenis Tumbuhan dan Satwa yang Dilindungi (lampiran) ↗
- Vigie-Nature École (MNHN) ↗
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (GBIF) ↗
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, version 2026-1, via GBIF (CC BY 4.0) ↗
References can change. Check dates and context in the original source.
Cite this page
PanduanHewan. (2026, 1 October). Moluccan king parrot (Alisterus amboinensis). PanduanHewan.org. https://panduanhewan.org/en/species/moluccan-king-parrot/