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Thered-capped parrot (Purpureicephalus spurius) is a species ofbroad-tailed parrot native to southwestWestern Australia. Described byHeinrich Kuhl in 1820, it is classified in its own genus owing to its distinctive elongated beak. Its closest relative is themulga parrot. It is not easily confused with other parrot species; both adult sexes have a bright crimsoncrown, green-yellow cheeks, and a distinctive long bill. The wings, back, and long tail are dark green, and the underparts are purple-blue. Found inwoodland and opensavanna country, the red-capped parrot consumes seeds (particularly ofeucalypts), flowers, berries, and occasionally insects. Nesting takes place intree 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 notthreatened. In captivity, it has a reputation of being both anxious and difficult to breed. (Full article...)

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Formerpresident of UruguayJosé Mujica dies at theage of 89.

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May 21:World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

Busoni c. 1897

1138 –The Crusades: Thesiege of Shaizar ended, and the Emir of Shaizar became a vassal of theByzantine Empire.
1864 –American Civil War: The inconclusiveBattle of Spotsylvania Court House inVirginia ended with combinedUnion andConfederate casualties totaling around 31,000.
1894 – TheManchester Ship Canal, linkingManchester inNorth West England to theIrish Sea, officially opened, becoming the world's largest navigation canal at the time.
1925 – The operaDoktor Faust, unfinished when composerFerruccio Busoni(pictured) died, was premieredin Dresden.
2014 – A Taiwanese mancarried out a stabbing spree on aTaipei Metro train, killing four people and injuring 24 others.

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Theblack-crowned barwing (Actinodura sodangorum) is a non-migratory bird fromMainland Southeast Asia in the family Leiothrichidae, thelaughingthrushes. The species's first sighting was reported in April 1996 atNgọc Linh, Vietnam, and it wasformally described in 1999. The black-crowned barwing is the only bird in the genusActinodura to have a black crown. It has transverse barring on the wings (wingbars) and a crest, which are characteristic of the genus. Its naturalhabitats are subtropical or tropical moistmontane forest, high-altitudeshrubland, high-altitudegrassland, andplantations. This black-crowned barwing was photographed in the Ngọc Linh Nature Reserve, Vietnam.

Photograph credit:JJ Harrison

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