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Birds Identification Guide [Parrots]

Parrots

Rainbow Lorikeet
[Trichoglossus haematodus]

Description: A dark blue head with lighter blue streaks and bright red bill. Yellow-green collar and deep violet-blue abdomen. Red, yellow and grey underwings. The males and females are almost identical. Size: 28cm. Voice: Continuous screeching and chattering and also wheezing noises when feeding.

Notes: These gorgeous birds are found in almost all habitats, ranging from rainforest to city parks and gardens. They are widespread in the Greater Brisbane Region and across much of the coast and hinterland of the continent, with the exception of a small pocket on the central coast of Western Australia. They are present all year round. They are nectar eaters and have an absorbent "brush-tipped" tongue covered in fine, spongy protrusions that soak up the nectar. They also supplement their diet with fruit, seeds and insects.

Picture Source: "Lean on Me", a pair of lorikeets getting cosy on a rainy afternoon, taken by Lesley Smitheringale in her garden in the Redlands area of Queensland, Australia.

Info Sources: "Parrots - A Wild Australia Guide" by Steve Parish and Karin Cox, "Wildlife of Greater Brisbane - A Queensland Museum Wild Guide", "Field Guide to the Birds of Australia" by Simpson & Day.

"Caught in the Act" filmed by Lesley Smitheringale in her back yard in the Redlands area of Queensland, Australia. An amorous male rainbow lorikeet struts his stuff but the female seems less than keen and she gives new meaning to kick boxing. This is hilarious!

Pale-headed Rosella
[Platycercus adscitus]

Description: A blue and yellow parrot with a yellowish to white head and long tapering tail of pale and dark blue feathers. White and violet-blue cheeks and a scalloped effect of the back feathers which is common to all rosellas. Immature birds are similar but duller and may have a few red feathers on their crown. Length: 35cm

Notes: These beautiful birds are very timid and nervous around humans but social and active with other birds. In our garden, they are intimidated by all of the other birds, particularly the lorikeets who always win the battle for the seed bell. Their habitat is open forest, woodland, scattered trees bordering agricultural lands, semi-arid shrublands, farmlands, orchards, playing fields, golf courses, parks and gardens. They are usually seen in pairs but can sometimes form flocks with Eastern Rosellas and are able to breed to produce hybrids. When breeding, females lay 3-5 eggs in a high nest hollow and incubate them for 20 days. Their diet consists of seeds, nectar, insects, larvae and fruit. When they fly they seem to dip up and down.

Pale-headed Rosellas on Seed Bell

Photo Source: Taken by Lesley Smitheringale in her garden in the Redlands area of South East Queensland
Info Sources: "Wildlife of Greater Brisbane" - A Queensland Museum Wild Guide, "Field Guide to the Birds of Australian" by Simpson and Day, "Parrots" - A Wild Australia Guide by Steve Parish and Karin Cox

Eastern Rosella on Seed Bell

Eastern Rosella
[Platycercus eximius]

Description: Striking scarlet head. Yellow body with blue wings and black-edged feathers on the back with scarlet beneath the base of the tail. Distinct white cheeks with white beak. Size: 30cm.

Notes: I have only seen this bird once and it visited my garden for a few days before disappearing and has not been back unfortunately. He was by himself and absolutely stunning. Their habitat is woodland, farmlands, parks and gardens of South East Queensland. They feed on flower nectar, pollen, seeds, insects, larvae and fruit. A pleasant piping call. Breeding is the same as the pale-headed rosellas and most clutches contain 4-5 eggs.

Photo Source: Taken by Lesley Smitheringale in her garden in the Redlands area of South East Queensland
Info Sources: "Field Guide to the Birds of Australian" by Simpson and Day, "Parrots" - A Wild Australia Guide by Steve Parish and Karin Cox

Snatch 'n' Grab

Australian King-Parrot
[Alisterus scapularis]

Description: Large body. Length: 45cm. Males have striking scarlet body plumage with green wings and square-tipped tail, which becomes a deep purplish-blue at the base. Females and immature birds have a green head and greenish-yellow body. Both sexes have a pale turquoise stripe down the wing.

Notes: A single male came into my garden only once in the Redlands area of South East Queensland and he has never been back. Their habitat is rainforests. scrub, wet eucalypt and riverine forests, coastal woodland, orchards, parks and gardens. They eat fruit, particularly bananas, seeds and some nectar and blossoms.They enjoy Brush Turpentine [Rhodamnia rubescens] berries and Blue Lilly pilly [Syzgium oleosum] berries. They have high nesting hollows and the female will produce a clutch of 4-6 eggs. Like the other parrots, they are sociable and gregarious and will form small flocks. They are attracted to back yard feeders but are naturally cautious of humans.

King Parrot on Seed Bell

LSmitheringale	Latest page update: made by LSmitheringale , Sep 23 2009, 3:54 AM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by LSmitheringale 1 widget added view changes - complete history)
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Birds Identification Guide [Parrots]

Parrots

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