Parrot

Mini Macaw

2010-12-13T00:52:00.001-08:00

Mini-macaws are a loosely-defined group of small-to-medium-sized macaw species within the tribe Arini. The term has no fixed taxonomic meaning and is principally used in aviculture to describe a small macaw belonging to one of a number of different genera, with overall length being the sole criterion for inclusion. Any macaw with an overall length (including the tail) of less than about 50 cm (20 inches) can be described as a 'mini-macaw'. Additionally, the 'Mini-' prefix may be added to the species name when describing the bird in question (e.g. "Red-shouldered Mini-macaw").

In the pet trade, the term can be used to suggest that the species in question is better suited as a companion parrot for owners with less space in their homes than would be required by one of the larger macaw species

Cockatiel

2010-11-29T10:58:00.000-08:00

The Cockatiel, also known as the Quarrion and the Weiro, is the smallest cockatoo endemic to Australia. They are prized as a household pet and companion parrot throughout the world and are relatively easy to breed. As a caged bird, cockatiels are second only in popularity to the Budgerigar.

The cockatiel is the only member of the genus Nymphicus. It was previously considered a crested parrot or small cockatoo; however, more recent molecular studies have assigned it to the Cockatoo subfamily Calyptorhynchinae (commonly known as Dark Cockatoos). It is, therefore, now classified as the smallest of the Cacatuidae (Cockatoo family). Cockatiels are native to the outback regions of inland Australia, and favour the Australian wetlands, scrublands, and bush lands.

Sexual dimorphism

All wild cockatiel (also known as the Normal Grey Cockatiel) chicks and juveniles are phenotypically female, and virtually indistinguishable from the time of hatching until their first molting. They display horizontal yellow stripes or bars on the ventral surface of their tail feathers, yellow spots on the ventral surface of the primary flight feathers of their wings, a gray colored crest and face, and a dull orange patch on each of their cheeks.

Adult cockatiels are sexually dimorphic, though to a lesser degree than many other avian species. This is only evident after the first molting, typically occurring about six to nine months after hatching: the male loses the white or yellow barring and spots on the underside of his tail feathers and wings. The gray feathers on his cheeks and crest are replaced by bright yellow feathers, while the orange cheek patch becomes brighter and more distinct. The face and crest of the female will typically remain mostly gray, though also with an orange cheek patch. Additionally, the female commonly retains the horizontal barring on the underside of her tail feathers.

The color in cockatiels is derived from two pigments: Melanin (which provides the gray color in the feathers, eyes, beak, and feet), and lipochromes (which provide the yellow color on the face and tail and the orange color of the cheek patch). The gray color of the melanin overrides the yellow and orange of the lipochromes when both are present.

The melanin content decreases in the face of the males as they mature, allowing the yellow and orange lipochromes to be more visible, while an increase in melanin content in the tail causes the disappearance of the horizontal yellow tail bars.

In addition to these visible characteristics, the vocalization of adult males is typically louder and more complex than that of females.

Portrayal

The Cockatiel's distinctive erectile crest expresses the animal's state of being. The crest is dramatically vertical when the cockatiel is startled or excited, gently oblique in its neutral or relaxed state, and flattened close to the head when the animal is angry or defensive. The crest is also held flat but protrudes outward in the back when the cockatiel is trying to appear alluring or flirtatious. In contrast to most Cockatoos, the Cockatiel has long tail feathers roughly making up half of its total length. At 300 mm to 330 mm (12 to 13 ins), the Cockatiel is the smallest and only parakeet type of Cockatoo species. The latter ranging between 300 mm to 600 mm (12–24 in) in length.

The "Normal Grey" or "Wild-type" cockatiel's plumage is primarily grey with prominent white flashes on the outer edges of each wing. The face of the male is yellow or white, while the face of the female is primarily grey or light grey, and both sexes feature a round orange area on both ear areas, often referred to as "cheek patches." This orange colouration is generally vibrant in adult males, and often quite muted in females. Visual sexing is often possible with this variant of the bird.

Distribution and habitat

Cockatiels are native to Australia, where they are found largely in arid or semi-arid country, but always near water. Largely nomadic, the species will move to where food and water is available. They are typically seen in pairs or small flocks. Sometimes, hundreds will flock around a single such body of water. To many farmers' dismay, they often eat cultivated crops. They are absent from the most fertile southwest and southeast corners of the country, the deepest Western Australian deserts, and Cape York Peninsula. They are the only Cockatoo species which can sometimes reproduce in the end of their first year.

Lifespan

The Cockatiel's lifespan in captivity is generally given as 15–20 years, though it is sometimes given as short as 10–15 years, and there are reports of Cockatiels living as long as 30 years, the oldest confirmed specimen reported being 36 years old. Diet and exercise are major determining factors in cockatiel lifespan.

Colour mutations

Fifteen different Cockatiel colour mutations are currently established in aviculture, including Grey, Pied, Pearled, Cinnamon, Whitefaced, Lutino, Albino (aka. Whitefaced Lutino) and Yellowcheeked Cockatiels.

Aviculture

Cockatiels are generally regarded as good pets. Like most other pets, the manner in which the animal is raised, handled, and kept along with inherited "personality" traits have a profound effect on the temperament of the animal. Some birds are quite gregarious and sociable while others can be shy, retreating to the back of the cage when an unfamiliar figure appears. If handled often and if they have a patient owner, cockatiels become tame very quickly compared to some other parrot species.

Australian Pied budgerigar Mutation

2010-11-28T04:32:00.000-08:00

The Australian Pied budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is the underlying mutation of the Banded Pied variety.

Appearance

All pied budgerigars are characterised by having irregular patches of completely clear feathers appearing anywhere in the body, head or wings. These clear feathers are pure white in blue-series birds and yellow in birds of the green series. Such patches are completely devoid of black melanin pigment. The remainder of the body is coloured normally.

The Australian Pieds are very similar in appearance to the Clearflight Pieds, with a nape spot, clear areas on the wings and a clear area on the breast. They differ from the Clearflight Pied in the nape spot, which is not always present, and in their feet, which are usually pink. But the main point of difference is in the clear area of the body, which in the Australian Pied is located in the middle or lower breast, with the upper breast being always normally coloured, so that there is a clear division between the mask and the breast, just as in normal birds. In the Clearflight Pied the clear area on the breast, if present, is almost always adjacent to and running into the mask. Australian Pieds often have larger clear areas on the wings than Clearflight Pieds, with all primaries and many secondaries often clear, but this cannot be taken as a distinguishing feature as the pied areas are very variable in extent in both mutations. Australian Pieds have the usual white iris ring when adult, distinguishing them clearly from Recessive Pieds, which have no iris ring at any age.

In the Australian Pied the clear area often takes the form of a band running across the breast. Birds with such bands are highly prized, especially if the band is clear, sharp and symmetrical, and the feature is now quite common and distinctive due to selective breeding. Such birds comprise the Banded Pied variety.

Historical notes

Many isolated appearances of pied or variegated budgerigars were reported in Britain, in continental Europe and in Australia in the late 1920s and early 1930s, but reliable reports of breeding results and detailed descriptions of their appearance during that period are rare. One of the earliest reports of the appearance of a budgerigar which could have been an Australian Pied was of a bird owned by W G Bowden - it had a clear nape spot and its breeding behaviour clearly showed a dominant inheritance pattern. Mr Bowden obtained or possibly bred the bird in 1931 - he did not report its source. The bird, a cock, was basically a Light Green but it had 'a yellow patch on the back of the head, another on the base of the rump' and 'a yellow streak, about a quarter of an inch in width, from the left wing butt to halfway across the breast'. A number of its flights were reported to be white or yellow. When mated to an unrelated hen in 1933 this cock produced 14 young over three nests, of which 5 showed some clear feathers on the nape of the neck. This could have been the first report of a Clearflight Pied or an Australian Pied; which of these it was is now impossible to tell as the only description available matches both types of Pied.

Several similar pied birds were reported around the same time in Germany, bred by Herr Krabbe and separately by Herr Schucke, by Madame Lecallier in France, by G Wilson and T L S Dooley in England, in Holland and in Scotland, but detailed descriptions and the mode of inheritance are unknown.

The present-day Australian Pieds, including the Banded Pied variety, are believed to be descended from a strain first established in Sydney in 1935 by Keith Ings.

They were first imported to Britain in 1957/8, when Mr A M Cooper of Caerleon, South Wales, bought two such birds, a Pied Green and a Pied Grey, both cocks, from a dealer in Bristol. Most of the Australian Pieds in Britain are descended from the Cooper strain.

Genetics

The Australian Pied allele is dominant over its wild-type allele, although with less than 100% penetrance. The extent and distribution of the clear areas shown by both single-factor (SF) and double-factor (DF) Australian Pieds are variable. The range of variability of the two genotypes appears to be identical, so it is not possible to determine the genetic make-up by considering the extent of the clear areas. In both single- and double-factor birds this variability ranges from no clear feathers at all, via just one or two clear feathers, to over half the body area affected, although the clear areas in cocks tend to be larger than those of hens.

The Australian Pied gene is located on one of the autosomal chromosomes. There is no known linkage of this gene with any other mutation.

There is no universally accepted genetic symbol for either the locus or mutant allele, so the symbol Pa⁺ for 'Pied, Australian' will be adopted here for the wild-type allele at this locus, and the symbol Pa for the Australian Pied mutant allele.

The factors governing the extent and distribution of the residual pigmentation are not known, although it is likely that at least some factors are sex-linked due to the different ranges in variability of the sexes.

Unlike the Clearflight Pied, the Australian Pied does not produce any Dark-eyed Clears when crossed with the Recessive Pied

Cockatoo Care Tips

2009-12-03T21:34:00.000-08:00

To help keep your parrot healthy and happy, you need to know how to care for him/her.

HOUSING-The bigger the cage, the better, but there are some general guidelines for cages. For a smaller cockatoo, its cage should be no smaller than 30" wide by 20" deep by 43" deep. For larger cockatoos (such as umbrella cockatoos), the cage should be no smaller than 40" wide by 30" deep by 50" tall, but no matter what size the bird, the cage must be made strong enough for a cockatoo to hang onto when (s)he climbs around, and can withstand a cockatoo's powerful beak. The bars of the cage shouldn't be any farther apart than 1".

Just as important for parrot care, would be toys. Toys should be made from very hard plastic or wood and should be brightly colored, zinc/lead free, and sturdy enough to withstand the great force of a cockatoo's strong beak.

Bells are also a wonderful toys for cockatoos, but make sure that the bell is made of a non-toxic metal. Stainless steel is safe for birds, however, be sure to get a bell for large birds. Bells that are too small can be easily taken apart, and small pieces can be swallowed, resulting in some real problems, even death.

A safe play gym, whether it is free standing, or mounts on the top of the cage is sure to bring plenty of fun.

Food is one of the most important things for good parrot care. A combination of a pelleted food and daily fresh fruits and vegetables will help to ensure a parrot's good health. Cockatoos can even have meats, however, beef and pork should be kept to a minimum, while more chicken and turkey is recommended. Cockatoos are not fussy eaters; however, do not give your cockatoo avocados, chocolate, or alcohol in any form. Deep fried should never be given to a cockatoo, nor should salted treats such as potato chips, pretzels that have salt, and saltines that have been salted. Diary products are safe for a Cockatoo; however, this too must be limited. Too much dairy product can cause diarrhea and dehydration from the diarrhea.

Good Cockatoo care also consists of time - your time. Cockatoos are very loving birds, and they are known for being 'cuddly' and they are demanding of their owners' time. They love to sit and have dinner with the family and at the same time they love their quiet time with their owner(s).

If a Cockatoo doesn't get the attention and love that it needs, (s)he can become quite loud and develop bad habits.

Many people who get cockatoos do not realize how demanding a cockatoo is, and soon become frustrated with them, leading up to the people either getting rid of the cockatoo or neglecting the cockatoo.

Medical care for a cockatoo should be done by a Certified Avian Veterinarian or an Exotic Animal Veterinarian. Many vets do not work with birds because this is a 'specialty field', and many vets do not know enough about birds.

So if you decide to get a Cockatoo, remember that they do require a lot of time, love, the right cages, toys, vet care, and food for the best cockatoo care that can be provided.

For information on parrot care, please click here. Danny L. publishes an online newsletter at TheTameParrot.com where you can find killer tips and techniques that will help you turn your naughty bird into a well-mannered and well-behaved pet.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/cockatoo-care-tips-234320.html

History of African Grey Parrot

2009-12-02T05:31:00.000-08:00

The history of African Grey Parrots being kept as pets can be traced as back as over 4000 years. The Egyptians are reported to be the first who keep these parrots as pets as it is clear from their hieroglyphics. Ancient Greeks also kept these parrot. The custom of owning African Grey Parrots was later adopted by some Roman families who often kept these parrots in ornate cages. King Henry VIII of England was rumored to have an African Grey parrot when he returned from Punjab. Portuguese sailors kept them as companions on their long sea voyages.

African Grey Parrots were also kept as pets in Roman Times where there were shipments of parrots from Africa to Rome. So it can be said with certainty that African Grey Parrots were traded at that time back in 1522 A.D.

Unfortunately In early days, natives who did not know the worth of African Grey Parrots killed these parrots for food and for their red tail feathers. The red tail feathers of African Grey Parrots were used for decoration and were also considered to have a magical power. It was the early 19^th century when African Grey Parrots got the popularity and people started to know the ultimate intelligence of these parrots. African Gray parrots were sold to the Europeans and these birds gained popularity among them. At that time parrots were stuffed into reed cylinders and transported by sea. Even now, in spite of the fact that the export of African Grey Parrots is prohibited, being illegal, yet a large number of these birds are being exported in small boxes via ships, and because of suffocation & starvation many of these birds die even before reaching their new destination.

The import of African Grey Parrots has been ceased in USA since 1992 under WILD BIRD CONSERVATION ACT. In the European Union, an EU Directive of 2007 prevents importation of this and any other 'wild-caught' bird for the pet trade.

At present for the pet trade many African Grey parrots are hand-reared by breeders, and these parrots can make excellent pets. But the methods used to produce them for the pet trade greatly affects the pet quality of African Grey Parrots. .

Today African Grey Parrot is still kept as a prized pet. However, because they can b unpredictable at times, they may not be suitable for kids.

Yellow Collared Lovebird

2009-11-29T00:21:00.000-08:00

The Yellow-collared Lovebird, also called Masked Lovebird or Eye Ring Lovebird, is a monotypic species of bird of the lovebird genus in the parrot family. They are native to northeast Tanzania, and they have been introduced to Burundi and Kenya.

Description

The Yellow-collared Lovebird is a mainly green small parrot about 14.5 cm (5.5 in) long. It upper parts are a darker green than its lower surfaces. Its head is black, and it has a bright red beak and white eyerings. Yellow on the breast is continuous with a yellow collar and an expansion of yellow over the nape of the neck. Male and female have identical external appearance.

Breeding

The Yellow-collared Lovebird brings nesting material in its beak to a tree cavity for their nest. The eggs are white and there are usually four to five in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for about 23 days and the chicks leave the nest about 42 days after hatching.

Aviculture

The blue mutation was originally found in wild birds in the 1920s and is the oldest colour mutation known in the lovebird genus. The other mutations are a result of selective breeding in aviculture. Various color mutations exist, including blue, cobalt, slate, dilute slate and violet.

They are also reportedly more shy and reserved in comparison to the Peach-faced Lovebird.

Bronze-winged Parrot

2009-11-16T00:17:00.000-08:00

The Bronze-winged Parrot is a medium sized pionus parrot 28 cm (11 in) long. It is a short-tailed stocky parrot found in forest and woodland in north-western South America.

Description

It is mainly dark with a whitish chin patch and its upper chest is speckled with pink feathers. It has short red undertail feathers. The rump, tail and wings are dark blue with lighter blue underwings. The head is dark blue-green; the mantle, back and underparts are dark bronze-green with some blue tipped feathers and sometimes scattered red feathers. Its beak is pale yellow. In adults the ring of bare skin around the eyes is pink. Juveniles have whitish eyerings and their underparts are brownish.

Taxonomy

Today most authorities consider this species as monotypic, but some continue to recognize two subspecies:

P. c. chalcopterus: west Venezula, and north and central Colombia.
P. b. cyanescens: south-west Colombia, west Ecuador, and north-west Peru. Reputedly with broader blue margins on feathers, chin patch and surrounding ring smaller and less distinct.

Range and habitat

The Bronze-winged Parrot is found in far western Venezuela, western and central Colombia, western Ecuador and far north-western Peru. In Venezuela it mainly occurs at altitudes of 900-1400 m, in Colombia it mainly occurs at altitudes of 1400-2400 m (occasionally as high as 2800 m), in Ecuador mainly below 1400 m, and in Peru below 800 m. It generally prefers the canopy of forest and woodland (both humid and semi-deciduous), but also occurs in adjacent habitats with tall trees. It appears to be rather nomadic in parts of its range, but the movements (possibly only in response to the availability of food) are generally poorly understood.

Behavior

It is typically seen in pairs of small groups of up to ten birds.

The Bronze-winged Parrot nests in tree cavities. The eggs are white and there are usually three to four in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for about 26 days and the chicks leave the nest about 70 days after hatching.

White-crowned Parrot

2009-11-16T00:15:00.000-08:00

The White-crowned Parrot, also known as the White-crowned Pionus in aviculture, is a small parrot which is a resident breeding species from eastern Mexico to western Panama.

It is found in lowlands and foothills locally up to 1600 m altitude in forest canopy and edges, and adjacent semi-open woodland and second growth. The 3-6 white eggs are laid in an unlined nest, usually a natural cavity in a tree or a hollow palm stub.

The White-crowned Parrot is 24 cm long and weighs 220 g. The adult male has a white forehead and crown, the feature which, likened to an old man’s white hair, gave rise to the specific name senilis. The throat is white, and the rest of the head, neck and breast are dull dark blue. The belly is light green, and the upperparts are dark green, with a yellow-olive shoulder patch. In flight, the blue underwings and red vent are conspicuous features.

The female White-crowned Parrot is similar to the male, but the blue plumage fades into scaling on the lower breast and the shoulder patch is duller. Young birds have little blue on the head and neck or red on the undertail, and the crown feathers are green edged with white.

The White-crowned Parrot feeds in social flocks of 30-50 birds, which may wander outside the breeding range once nesting has finished. It feeds on taking various seeds, nuts and fruits, and can be pest in crops of corn or sorghum, and commercial fruit plantations.

It can be unobtrusive when feeding since it is slow-moving, usually silent, and keeps in the canopy. However, at rest it often perches conspicuously at the top of an unopened palm frond.

Scaly-headed Parrot

2009-11-16T00:13:00.000-08:00

The Scaly-headed Parrot is a species of bird in the Psittacidae family, the true parrots. It is also called Scaly-headed Pionus, Maximilian Pionus, Maximilian Parrot, Maximilian's Pionus, or Maximilian's Parrot.

It is found in eastern Brazil, central and eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. It is found in a wide range of wooded habitats, from humid subtropical forest to arid Caatinga. It is remains fairly common throughout a large part of its range. It is typically seen in pairs or small flocks. The scaling to the head for which it is named is typically far less distinct than the bright red undertail coverts (a feature found in all members of the genus Pionus).

Red-billed Parrot

2009-11-16T00:11:00.000-08:00

The Red-billed Parrot or Red-billed Pionus is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is found in humid subtropical forests in the Venezuelan Coastal Range, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and in the Andes from Colombia in north to Bolivia in south (though with significant gaps). Uniquely for a member of the genus Pionus, its bill is almost entirely bright red. The plumage is greenish with a dull blue chest and red undertail coverts.

Blue-headed Parrot

2009-11-16T00:07:00.000-08:00

The Blue-headed Parrot, also known as the Blue-headed Pionus, Pionus menstruus, is a medium large parrot. It is about 27 cm long and they are mainly green with a blue head and neck, and red under tail feathers. It is a resident bird in tropical and subtropical South America and southern Central America, from Costa Rica, Venezuela and Trinidad south to Bolivia and Brazil. It is named for its medium-blue head and neck.

Its habitat is forest and semi-open country, including cultivated areas. It is largely restricted to humid or semi-humid regions, but locally extends into drier habitats, at least along rivers. The Blue-headed Parrot lays three to five white eggs in a tree cavity.

Blue-headed Parrots are noisy birds and make light, high-pitched squeaking sweenk calls. They eat fruit and seeds, and sometimes grain. They roost communally in palm and other trees, and large numbers can be seen at the roost sites at dawn and dusk.

Blue-headed Pionus parrots are popular as pets. Compared to other parrot species (Amazons for example) they are very quiet. They are affectionate, but not known for their talking ability.

Description

The Blue-headed Parrot is about 28 cm (11 in) long and weighs 245 gm. It is mainly green with a blue head, neck and upper breast, red undertail coverts, and some yellowish on the wing coverts. The upper mandible is black with reddish areas on both sides. They have dark ear patches. In addition to the well-known nominate subspecies found throughout most of the species' South American range, there are two more localized subspecies: rubrigularis from southern Central America and the Chocó has an overall paler plumage and typically a relatively distinct pinkish patch on the throat, and reichenowi from the Atlantic Forest in east Brazil has a paler bill and most of the underparts blue. In all subspecies the male and the female are alike, and juvenile birds have less blue on the head, as well as red or pinkish feathers around the ceres. They moult into their adult plumage at about 8 months of age, but it can take up to two years for the full blue hood to emerge.

Range

In South America, the Blue-headed Parrot is mainly an Amazonian species, including in the southeast the neighboring Araguaia-Tocantins River system as its eastern limit; a disjunct population lives southeastwards on Brazil's South Atlantic coast, a coastal strip from Pernambuco in the north to Espírito Santo state in the south, about 1500 km long. In northwest South America the range continues into Central American Panama to Costa Rica. It avoids the northern Andes cordillera spine, and a smaller contiguous area of central Venezuela and northern Colombia. A Pacific Ocean coastal strip continues the range, from southern Ecuador, north to Caribbean areas of northwestern Colombia and western Venezuela.

Behaviour

Food and feeding

They eat fruit and seeds, and sometimes grain.

Breeding

The Blue-headed Parrot nests in tree cavities. The eggs are white and there are usually three to five in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for about 26 days and the chicks leave the nest about 70 days after hatching.

Yellow-faced Parrot

2009-11-16T00:04:00.000-08:00

The Yellow-faced Parrot, also known as the Yellow-faced Amazon, is the only species of the genus Alipiopsitta. It is a semi-nomadic species found in the cerrado region of Brazil and adjacent Bolivia. It occurs in small numbers and is declining or has already disappeared in large areas of its former range.

Previously, it was placed within the genus Amazona, but recent research showed that this species is much more closely related to the Short-tailed Parrot (Graydidascalus brachyurus) and to the members of the genus Pionus. Following this discovery, it was briefly placed in the genus Salvatoria, until this name was found to be pre-occupied by a group of polychaete worms from the superfamily Nereidoidea, thus leading to the transferral of the Yellow-faced Parrot to the genus Alipiopsitta.

Short-tailed Parrot

2009-11-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

The Short-tailed Parrot is the only species of the genus Graydidascalus. It is found along both banks of the Amazon river and other major Amazonian rivers in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. As suggested by its range, it is associated with the specific forest and woodland types growing near major rivers, although it also extends into the coastal deltas of French Guiana and Amapá, Brazil.

The closest relative is the Yellow-faced Parrot (Alipiopsitta xanthops) and the members of the genus Pionus.

It has a total length of c. 24 cm (9½ in). It is overall green with a large dark bill (large even for a parrot) and, as suggested by its name, a very short tail. Adults show a small maroon-red spot on the shoulder and at the base of the outer tail-feathers, but typically neither are easy to see.

The species is considered safe at the moment.

Pileated Parrot

2009-11-15T23:57:00.000-08:00

The Pileated Parrot, also known as the Red-capped Parrot (leading to easy confusion with the Australia Purpureicephalus spurius), is a medium-small species of parrot with a total length of about 22 cm (8½ in). It is found in or near Atlantic Forest in south-eastern Brazil, far north-eastern Argentina, and eastern Paraguay. A local name in Paraguayan Guaraní is Cúiu Cúiu.

Unlike all other species previously placed in the genus Pionopsitta, the Pileated Parrot does not have a contrasting brownish-olive chest, and recently it was established via mtDNA that it is indeed distinct enough for the others to be moved into a separate genus, Pyrilia, again making Pionopsitta monotypic. The plumage of the Pileated Parrot is overall green with bluish flight feathers, a faint brownish-maroon auricular patch (lacking in juveniles) and, in the male, a bright red forehead that extends down to just below the eyes.

Orange-cheeked Parrot

2009-11-15T23:54:00.000-08:00

The Orange-cheeked Parrot is a species of parrot in the family Psittacidae. It was formerly placed in the genus Pionopsitta which is now monotypic. It is found in the Amazonian Andes, in humid lowland forests in the northwestern, southwestern and south-central Amazon Basin in South America. The binomial name of this bird commemorates the French painter Jacques Barraband.

Red-fan Parrot

2009-11-15T23:51:00.000-08:00

The Red-fan Parrot, also known as the Hawk-headed Parrot, is an unusual New World parrot hailing from the Amazon Rainforest. It is the only member of the genus Deroptyus.

The Red-fan Parrot possesses elongated neck feathers that can be raised to form an elaborate fan, which greatly increases the bird's apparent size, and is possibly used when threatened. It generally lives in undisturbed forest, feeding in the canopy on fruits. It nests in holes in trees and stumps, laying two to three eggs. Only two nests have been examined in the wild, both had one chick.

It is not considered threatened, but is listed on CITES Appendix II (as are most parrots not listed on Appendix I).

Aviculture

Red-fan Parrots, although not particularly common in aviculture are sometimes kept as aviary birds or companion parrots. Whilst juvenile birds tend to be docile, adults can be particularly ill-tempered, stubborn, unpredictable and strong-willed birds, showing extreme aggression towards humans and other birds housed with them (including others of their own species and/or their own mates), particularly when in breeding condition. Red-fan Parrots, when kept as pets tend to bond with one person and require firm handling and a patient owner, experienced in both bird-keeping and the reading of psittacine body language. However as with all parrots, temperament can vary greatly from individual to individual and some Red-fan Parrots do make excellent companions.

White-bellied Parrot

2009-11-15T23:47:00.000-08:00

The White-bellied Parrot, in aviculture often referred to as the White-bellied Caique, is one of the two species in the genus Pionites of the Psittacidae family; the other species being the allopatric Black-headed Parrot. Both species are popular as pets.

It is found in humid forest and nearby wooded habitats in the Amazon south of the Amazon River in Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru. It is generally fairly common throughout its range and is easily seen in a wide range of protected areas, such as the Manú National Park and Tambopata-Candamo in Peru, Cristalino State Park (near Alta Floresta), Xingu National Park and Amazônia National Park in Brazil, and Madidi National Park in Bolivia.

Description

The White-bellied Parrot has an orange-yellow head and vent, a white belly, green wings and back, bluish primary feathers, a pinkish-horn beak, and pinkish legs and feet. Juveniles have brownish or black feathers on the head and nape, yellow feathers on the white belly, and greyish legs. Generally, the off-colored feathers will be lost and replaced by orange or white feathers respectively as the bird matures. Young birds also have dark brown irises, which will change to a rust or orange with age.

Subspecies

Green-thighed Parrot/Caique (Pionites leucogaster leucogaster). Found in the eastern part of its range. It has green thighs and upper tail.
Yellow-thighed Parrot/Caique (P. l. xanthomerius). Found in western part of its range. It has yellow thighs and green upper tail.
Yellow-tailed Parrot/Caique (P. l. xanthurus). Found in the central part of its range. It has yellow thighs and upper tail.

The Yellow-thighed is the subspecies most commonly kept as a pet in the United States. The Green-thighed is somewhat rare in captivity, and Yellow-tailed is very rare in captivity.

Black-headed Parrot

2009-11-15T23:41:00.000-08:00

The Black-headed Parrot, also known as the Black-headed Caique, Black-capped Parrot or Pallid Parrot, is one of the two species in the genus Pionites of the Psittacidae family; the other species being the allopatric White-bellied Parrot.

It is found in forest (especially, but not exclusively, humid) and nearby wooded habitats in the Amazon north of the Amazon River and west of the Ucayali River in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. It is generally fairly common and occurs in many protected areas throughout its range.

It is most often found in pairs or small noisy flocks of up to 10 individuals, but sometimes up to 30. In the wild, they eat mostly flowers, pulp, and seeds and possibly insects.

Description

The Black-headed Parrot is a medium-small, short-tailed parrot with a black crown, yellow to orange head, whitish belly, yellow thighs and crissum, green back, wings and upper tail, blue primaries (blackish from below), and greyish-black bill and feet.

Male and female birds have identical plumage.

Aviculture

Black-headed Parrots are popular in aviculture. The only ways to determine gender of an individual Black-headed Parrot are surgical sexing and DNA sexing. DNA sexing is safer for the bird than surgical sexing.

Black-headed Caiques are very energetic pets. They need a large cage with lots of toys and perches (they tend to hop more than fly). Cage minimum should be 24" L X 24" W X 36" H, though the larger the better. Maximum bar spacing is 1".

Caiques can be nippy, so setting rules and boundaries early is best. although be prepared for a bird who uses its beak more often than other parrot species.

Pacific Parrotlet

2009-11-12T10:23:00.000-08:00

The Pacific Parrotlet, also known as Lesson's Parrotlet and Celestial Parrotlet, is a species of small parrot in the Psittacidae family, native to Ecuador and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, and heavily degraded former forest.

Parrotlets are the second smallest of all parrots. Pacific Parrotlets are between 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches in length. They come from South America in the area of Peru and Ecuador. There are seven species of Parrotlets. Only three of these species are kept as pets. Of these, the Pacific Parrotlet is the most common. It is sometimes called the Celestial Parrotlet.

The Pacific Parrotlet is green. The males have blue on their wings, backs and streaking back from their eyes. This is true of the male color mutation parrotlets also.

Aviculture

This species is very common in pet stores and is valued by breeders. Its normal price range is 150-200 USD. This price is much lower than other species because since 1930 the US has had an established breeding population in captivity, before the CITES laws preventing importing wildlife from foreign countries. They have a cost of $2 (two) in Peruvian markets. Some of the color mutations in aviculture include blue, American yellow, American White, European yellow and white, fallow, dark factor green and lutino.

Spectacled Parrotlet

2009-11-12T10:20:00.000-08:00

The Spectacled Parrotlet is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is found in Colombia, Panama, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and heavily degraded former forest

Blue-winged Parrotlet

2009-11-12T10:17:00.000-08:00

The Blue-winged Parrotlet is a small parrot found in much of South America. It includes the Turquoise-rumped Parrotlet (Forpus xanthopterygius spengeli), which sometimes is treated as a separate species. The Blue-winged Parrotlet is mainly found in lowlands, but locally up to 1200m in south-eastern Brazil. It occurs in woodland, scrub, savanna, and pastures. Flocks are usually around 20 birds but can grow to over 50 around fruiting trees or seeding grasses. It is generally common and widespread, though more localized in the Amazon Basin.

Description

The Blue-winged Parrotlet is a short (12 cm) stocky mainly green bird with a short tapered tail. Sexually dimorphic, the males have blue on the primary and underwing coverts, the remiges and the rump (blue in wings greatly reduced in F. x. spengeli). The face, ear coverts, thighs and vent area are a brighter emerald green. Females, which lack the identifying blue coloration, are easily confused with the Green-rumped Parrotlet, but there is little overlap in their distributions. The subspecies varies primarily in the overall darkness and the amount of yellow to the plumage.

Taxonomy

For a while it was considered conspecific with the Green-rumped Parrotlet (F. passerinus), but today all authorities recognized the two as separate species. It is also possible that the subspecies spengeli is better classified as a subspecies of the Mexican Parrotlet (F. cyanopygis), or, more likely, a species of its own, the Turquoise-rumped Parrotlet (F. spengeli).

Name

This is a rare case in which the common name has been more stable than the binomial. F. xanthopterygius initially referred to two species, one of which was a different species, the Canary-winged Parakeet. Consequently, the Brazilian ornithologist Pinto discarded the name F. xanthopterygius for the Blue-winged Parrotlet in 1945, and instead applied the next oldest name, F. crassirostris. That same year it was mistakenly written up as F. xanthopterygius crassirostris and it reverted to F. xanthopterygius again. In 1978, Pinto mentioned the mistake in Novo catálogo das aves do Brasil and the name was changed to F. crassirostris. However, as was pointed out in 1999, the original name F. xanthopterygius remains valid per ICZN rules, and consequently this name has been re-applied to the Blue-winged Parrotlet. To increase the confusion, the name of the nominate subspecies also changed: F. x. xanthopterygius is the subspecies formerly listed as F. c. vividus.

Green-rumped Parrotlet

2009-11-12T10:14:00.000-08:00

The Green-rumped Parrotlet, is a small parrot. It is a resident breeding bird in tropical South America, from Caribbean regions of Colombia, Venezuela and Trinidad south and east to the Guianas and Brazil, on the downstream Amazon River. It has been introduced in Jamaica, Curaçao, Barbados and Tobago, and was not recorded on Trinidad prior to 1916.

Its habitat is open forest and scrub. The female lays five to seven white eggs in a hole in a termite nest, tree cavity, or even hollow pipe, and incubates the clutch for 18 days to hatching, with about another five weeks to fledging.

The Green-rumped Parrotlet is about 12 cm (4.8 in) long and weighs 23 g and is the smallest parrot found in the Americas. It is mainly bright green with a short tail and pinkish bill. The male has a brilliant blue wing patch, and females sometimes have some yellow on the head. The subspecies F. p. viridissimus of Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago is darker green than the nominate F. p. passerinus, and the males have more strongly blue-tinged wings.

Green-rumped Parrotlets make light, twittering calls. They eat seeds including those of grasses. They are very gregarious and roost communally; large numbers can be seen at the roost sites at dawn and dusk.

This is a widespread and common species which has benefited from deforestation

Austral Parakeet

2009-11-12T10:08:00.000-08:00

The Austral Parakeet, Austral Conure or Emerald Parakeet, Enicognathus ferrugineus, is a parrot found on the southern tip of South America - further south than any other parrot - ranging as far north as Temuco. It is a fairly large conure, 35cm (2cm more than a Monk or Quaker Parakeet). It is primarily green, lightly barred, with some dull red on the forehead and lores, belly, and upper tail, with the northern part of the range displaying less red.

It occurs mostly in wooded country, but also shrubland and farmland. It stays near sea level in the extreme south, but ranges up to 2000m at the northern end of its range. Flock size is usually only 10-15 individuals, though flocks over 100 are known. It eats grass and bamboo seeds, nuts and small fruit, and nests in tree cavities.

Reddish-bellied Parakeet

2009-11-12T10:06:00.000-08:00

The Reddish-bellied Parakeet is a small parrot found from southeastern Brazil to north-eastern Argentina, including eastern Paraguay and Uruguay. It is also known as the Maroon-bellied Parakeet, and in aviculture it is usually referred to as the Maroon-bellied Conure, Reddish-bellied Conure or Brown-eared Conure.

It has been suggested that the Reddish-bellied Parakeet should include the Blaze-winged Parakeet (P. devillei) as a subspecies based on intermediate specimens from Paraguay. But such hybrids are not common in the wild and the two populations generally maintain their integrity; they are therefore generally considered separate species today.

Description

These birds range from 25 to 28 cm (10-11 in), and are primarily green, with a maroon patch on the belly, a "scaly" yellow-green-barred breast and sides of neck, a whitish ear-patch often tinged brown, and a maroon undertail. The specific name frontalis is a reference to its dark maroon frontlet - a feature which separates it from most similar species. The primaries are blue on the outer webs, green on the inner webs, and dark on the tips. The beak is black.

There are two subspecies, with extensive intergradation where their ranges contact:

Reddish-bellied Parakeet proper, Pyrrhura frontalis frontalis – Brazil from south Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul, and west to Mato Grosso do Sul.

Uppertail greenish-yellow grading into a broad reddish tip.

Azara's Conure, Pyrrhura frontalis chiripepe – Eastern Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, and far southern Brazil.

Uppertail entirely greenish-yellow.

Another subspecies, kriegi, was described from Bahia in 1932, but today it is universally considered a junior synonym of the nominate subspecies. Distinguished by a narrow brownish-red tip to the tail, it consititutes just a morph or an intermediate genotype making up just 20% of the specimens even in the supposed range. The name Krieg's Conure is occasionally used in aviculture for such birds, and some breed them exclusively; they are of course perfectly interfertile with individuals of the normal morph however.

Ecology

The Reddish-bellied Parakeet is common in woodland, and forest edges. In the northern part of its range, it mainly lives in highlands up to 1,400 m (4,600 ft), but elsewhere it is primarily found in lowlands up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). Tolerates disturbance well and even lives in urban parks (e.g., Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo) and feeds in gardens. Flock size is usually only 6-12 individuals, but up to 40. As other members of the genus Pyrrhura, it primarily feeds on fruits, flowers, and similar plant matter; they rarely participate in mixed-species feeding flock.

It is generally common and not considered threatened by the IUCN. Though there is little trade in these parrots, captive-bred birds are occasionally available as pets. Reddish-bellied Parakeets can learn to talk, although not clearly. They are among the quietest conures, but their shrill voices still irritate some people.

Maroon-fronted Parrot

2009-11-12T09:57:00.000-08:00

The Maroon-fronted Parrot is a large, macaw-like parrot. It is dark green with a dark red shoulder and a maroon forehead and eye-stripe. Its underside of the wings and tail appear to be black when it is in flight. It makes a high, rolling cr-a ak sound. Groups sound similar to the Acorn Woodpecker if they are heard from a distance.

The species is endemic to northeast Mexico, where only about 2500–3000 birds survive in the wild.

Description

The Maroon-fronted Parrot is a large mostly green parrot about 45 cm (18 in) long. The adults have a dark maroon brow which extends over the rim of bare yellow skin that surrounds the eyes. They have a brighter red at the bend of the wing. The tail is long and pointed. The underside of the wings are blackish. The juvenile has a pale beak, whitish eye-rings, and lack the dark maroon stripe over each eye.

Habitat

Maroon-fronted Parrots live in mature pine, mixed conifer, and pine-oak forests from 2000 to 3500 meters. This bird is endemic to the Sierra Madre Oriental in Nuevo León, Coahuila and Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Behaviour

They nest in limestone cliffs near moving water in large colonies. Breeding coincides with the fruition of pines, which is its main food source. They lay one to three eggs in July and the juveniles fledge around November. They migrate over short distances seasonally.

Status and conservation

This bird is considered vulnerable due to overgrazing and habitat destruction. It is estimated that only 2500–3000 birds remain, while 95 to 110 young are produced in a year.

The ITESM Campus Monterrey carry out environmental education programs and science research in Parque Nacional Cumbres de Monterrey and Sierra de Arteaga for the conservation of Maroon-fronted Parrots.

Thick-billed Parrot

2009-11-12T09:54:00.000-08:00

The Thick-billed Parrot, Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha is an endangered, medium-sized, up to 38cm long, bright green parrot with a large black bill and a red forecrown, shoulder and thighs. It is found in Mexico, and its former range extended marginally into the United States.

Description

The Thick-billed Parrot is a medium-sized, up to 38 cm (15 in) long, bright green parrot with a large black bill and a red forecrown, shoulder and thighs. Adult eyes are amber, while juveniles have brown eyes. The rest of the bird is bright green. Thick-billed Parrots show red shoulders and leading edge on the underwing, followed by a blackish green stripe, then a yellow stripe, followed by the remaining underwing showing dark green. It appears to show a blackish tail.

Distribution and habitat

The Thick-billed Parrot lives in temperate conifer, pine, mature pine-oak and fir forests from 1200 to 3600 meters. For the most part, it is restricted to the Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico, though it used to live in the southwestern United States.

Behaviour

The Thick-billed Parrot likes to nest in tree cavities, especially old woodpecker holes. It mainly feeds on seeds from various pine species, so much so their entire lives revolve around cone production. Flocks of these parrots roost by cliffs and they breed at the peak of pine seed production. It is nomadic, following the variations of cone abundance. The bird sounds like a high pitched macaw and makes a variety of harsh, rolling calls. They are adept fliers.

Status

Habitat destruction and illegal bird trading gives the Thick-billed Parrot its endangered status on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and listing on Appendix I of CITES. It is estimated that only 1000-4000 Thick-billed Parrot exist. However, this last living parrot species native to the United States is well-established in captive breeding programs in many zoos across the world. Birds had been reintroduced in Arizona in the early 1980s, but this effort turned out to be unsuccessful. The parrots could not adapt to avoiding natural predators.

Arizona reintroduction

The re-introduction into the mountains of southeastern Arizona (the Madrean sky islands region), though well planned was dramatically impacted by predation. Due to extensive human development, residency, agriculture, etc., high numbers of predator species exist, especially hawks, and especially the goshawk. The bird loss was especially high to these now well-emplaced predator species. A future attempt at introduction would have to include an ecosystem area that somehow limits the success of the numerous predator species.

Conservation

For more than 10 years, Pronatura Noreste (a northeastern Mexican environmental NGO) and Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education have been monitoring 700 nests of Thick-Billed Parrots in Chihuahua. Through conservation easements with the ejidos, the organization has created sanctuaries for the protection of the bird's habitat.

Black-collared Lovebird

2009-11-12T09:51:00.000-08:00

The Black-collared Lovebird also known as Swindern's Lovebird is a small, 13.5 cm (5 in) long, African parrot in the genus Agapornis. It is a mostly green parrot with black band on the back of its neck, and a dark greyish-black bill. Both sexes are similar. It is rarely kept in captivity because of its dietary requirement for a native fig.

Description

It is a mostly green parrot with black-collared nape, brownish red chest, greyish black bill, yellow iris and grey feet. Both sexes are similar.

Taxonomy

There are three subspecies of the Black-collared Lovebird:

The nominate subspecies, A. s. swindernianus - Liberia, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana
Cameroon Black-collared Lovebird, A. s. zenkeri - Cameroon, Gabon and Congo
Ituri Black-collared Lovebird or Emin's Lovebird, A. s. emini - Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

The Black-collared Lovebird was discovered by Heinrich Kuhl in 1820. The name commemorates the Dutch professor, Theodore van Swinderen of University of Groningen.

Distribution and habitat

The Black-collared Lovebird is distributed across a wide range in equatorial Africa. It inhabits the forests of Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo,Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Liberia and Uganda. They hide high in the forest canopy and are characterized as being very shy.

Status

It is rare in some parts of its range. The range is so large that the population is difficult to estimate, but it is believed that the population is not under significant threat. The Black-collared Lovebird is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Aviculture

Black-collared Lovebirds are rarely kept in captivity or as pets. They require certain native fig seed or fig flesh as a basis of their daily diet, and without these vital dietary necessities they do not normally thrive or breed well in captivity.

Red-headed Lovebird

2009-11-12T09:48:00.000-08:00

The Red-headed Lovebird also known as the Red-faced Lovebird is a member of the genus Agapornis, a group commonly known as Lovebirds. Like other lovebirds it is native to Africa.

Description

The Red-headed Lovebird is 15 cm (6 inches) long. It is a mostly green parrot. It has a well demarcated red area on its head extending from the top of the beak, over the forehead to mid-crown, and extending to the left and right up to the eyelid margins. The have grey feet. The underside of the wings are a lighter green. The female has orange head colouring, which is less well demarcated than the males red head. The adult male has a red beak and the female has a paler red beak.

Distribution and habitat

It is native to a wide range in Africa including Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guine, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda. In addition, it is an introduced species in Liberia.

Breeding

It makes its nest in a termites nest usually in a tree or sometimes on the ground. To make a nest the female digs a tunnel up to a length of 30 cm in the termites nest in a colony with other lovebirds.

Aviculture

It is difficult to breed in captivity because it has to burrow to make its nest and the nest chamber needs to be heated to about 27C; however, they can be induced to burrow into cork to build a nest. It is a very nervous species.

Black-winged Lovebird

2009-11-12T09:45:00.000-08:00

The Black-winged Lovebird also known as Abyssinian Lovebird is a mainly green bird of the parrot family. At about 16.5 cm (6.5 inches) long, it is the largest of the lovebird genus, a group of small parrots. The adult male is easily identified by it red forehead, and the adult female by its all green head. They are native to Eritrea and Ethiopia, and they are uncommon as a pet

Description

The Black-winged Lovebird, with a length of about 16–16.5 cm (6.25–6.5 inches), is the largest of all the lovebirds. It is sexually dimorphic, as are the Red-headed Lovebird and Grey-headed Lovebird of the lovebird genus. The dimorphism becomes apparent in juvenile birds after their first moult at about eight or nine months of age. Both the male and female Black-winged Lovebird are mostly green, and only the adult male Black-winged Lovebird has a red forehead and a ring of red feathers around its eyes

The tail is black tipped and feathers below the tail show a yellowish colour. The rump and feathers above the tail are light green. In the male feathers under the wing are typically black, and in the female the feathers under the wing are typically greenish or brownish black. Both sexes have a red beak and gray feet.

Habitat

The natural habitat for a Black-winged Lovebird is typically from southern Eritrea to southwestern Ethiopia and they normally live in either high plains or mountainous regions.

Behaviour

Food and feeding

Sunflower seeds, corn, apples and mission figs are typical of an Abyssinian Lovebird diet.

Breeding

The Black-winged Lovebird nests in a tree cavity. The eggs are white and there are usually three or four eggs in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for 23 days, and the chicks fledge from the nest about 45 days after hatching.

Status

Widespread and a common species throughout its habitat range, the Black-winged Lovebird is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Aviculture

In aviculture the Black-winged Lovebird has not become well established as a breeding bird, although it can tolerate cold weather. Breeding in aviculture is on a small scale, so it is an uncommon pet.

Grey-headed Lovebird

2009-11-12T09:41:00.000-08:00

The Grey-headed Lovebird or Madagascar Lovebird is a small species of parrot of the lovebird genus. It is a mainly green parrot. The species is sexually dimorphic and only the adult male had a grey upper body. They are native on the island of Madagascar and are the only lovebird species which are not native on the African continent. They are the smallest of the lovebird species. It is rarely seen in aviculture and it is difficult to breed in captivity.

Description

The Grey-headed Lovebird is one of the smallest species of the lovebird genus, being 13 cm (5 inches) long and weighing about 30–36 grams. Its beak and feet are pale grey. The species is sexually dimorphic: the adult female is entirely green, with a dark green back and wings, a bright green rump, and a paler green chest; the adult male are similarly colored, except that their entire head and upper chest are a pale grey.

Behaviour

Grey-headed Lovebirds are strong fliers, and when open, their wings seem larger in relation to their bodies than those of the Peach-faced Lovebird. They can develop good speed quite quickly and effortlessly, and turn smoothly, though they are not as nimble in the air as the Peachies.

Aviculture

Grey-headed Lovebirds were first imported for European aviculture in the second half of the nineteenth century. When imports were permitted and they were available to aviculture in large numbers, little effort was put into breeding. They prefer to breed in the autumn, and because they have poor tolerance for cold weather breeding in aviculture is generally unsuccessful. They tend to be nervous and easily frightened in an aviary.

It is quite rare in captivity, with only a very few breeders having successfully reproduced more than one or two generations. This, and the fact that even hand-fed birds remain too shy and nervous to make good pets, are clear reasons for any captive Madagascars to be given a chance to breed, rather than being kept as pets.

Grey-headed Lovebirds prefer finch and canary seed over the sunflower/safflower mixes that most other lovebirds eat.

Black-cheeked Lovebird

2009-11-12T09:35:00.000-08:00

The Black-cheeked Lovebird is a small monotypic parrot species of the lovebird genus. It is mainly green and has a brown head, red beak, and white eyerings. It is endemic in a relatively small range in southwest Zambia, where it is vulnerable to habitat loss.

Description

The Black-cheeked Lovebird is 14 cm (5.5 in) in length, with mostly green plumage, reddish-brown forehead and forecrown, brownish-black cheeks and throat, orange bib below the throat which fades to yellowish-green, white eye-rings and grey feet. Adult have bright red beaks, while juveniles of the species are similar but with a more orange bill. Vocalizations are loud, piercing shrieks, which are very similar to those of other lovebirds.

Taxonomy

The Black-cheeked Lovebird is monotypic. The Black-cheeked Lovebird is sometimes seen as a race of Lilian's Lovebird.

Distribution and habitat

The Black-cheeked Lovebird inhabits deciduous woodland, where permanent supplies of surface water exist, as it needs daily access to water. In the dry season, these birds may congregate in large flocks of up to 800 or more.

It is listed as a vulnerable species since it has a small population which is in decline due to continuous habitat loss, particularly due to gradual desiccation of water bodies.

Diet

The Black-cheeked Lovebird feeds mainly at ground-level on annual grass seeds, but also on other vegetable matter and insect larvae, and on corn, sorghum, and millet

Aviculture

The Black-cheeked Lovebird is relatively easy to breed in aviculture, but there was little interest in breeding them during the first half of the twentieth century at a time when imports were numerous. Now they are uncommon in aviculture and uncommon as pets.

Lilian's Lovebird

2009-11-12T09:32:00.000-08:00

The Lilian's Lovebird, also known as Nyasa Lovebird, is a small African parrot species of the lovebird genus. It is mainly green and has orange on its upper chest and head. It is 13 cm (5 inches) long and is the smallest parrot on mainland Africa. In captivity it is uncommon and difficult to breed.

Description

The Lilian's Lovebird is 13 cm (5 inches) long and is mainly green with white eyerings. It has orange on its head, neck and upper chest and has a green rump. Male and female are identical in external appearance.

The Lilian's Lovebird is often mistaken for the slightly larger Fischer's Lovebird, which has an olive-green hood and a blue rump. It is also broadly similar to the Peach-faced Lovebird, which has more clearly demarcated orange colouration, and lacks a white eyering,.

Behaviour

Food and feeding

Lilian's Lovebird feeds on grass seeds, millet, wild rice, flowers, and the seeds and fruit of other species.

Breeding

The Breeding season for Lilian's Lovebirds is from January to March and in June and July. They make a roofed nest in tree crevices. In captivity the clutch consists of three to eight white eggs, which are incubated for about 22 days, and the chicks leave the nest after about 44 days from hatching.

Distribution and habitat

Lilian's Lovebird is endemic to Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In 2004 its numbers in the wild were estimated to be less than 20,000 individuals. It currently inhabits Liwonde National Park (LNP) and a few cluster groups occur in the surrounding forests outside LNP. Its distribution is rapidly becoming restricted to LNP because their feeding and breeding habitats are being exploited over for agricultural purposes. The extent of habitat loss outside LNP has not been determined scientifically although remaining habitat outside the LNP are fragmented Miombo Forest Reserves.

Threats

Liwonde National Park is located in the southern region of Malawi, which has the highest human population density in the country approximating 100-115 inhabitants per km² (FAO, 1997). LNP is greatly impacted by population growth and agricultural activities than any other national park in the country. Recently, cases of Lilian's Lovebird poisoning have intensified although it is not known why poachers are poisoning the birds. Lilian's Lovebird researchers assume poachers mean to poison larger mammals and Lovebirds fall victims.

Aviculture

Lilian's Lovebird is a difficult species to rear in captivity. Many breeders worldwide struggle to breed the species.

Fischer's Lovebird

2009-11-12T09:24:00.000-08:00

The Fischer's Lovebird is a small parrot species of the Lovebird genus. They were originally discovered in the late 1800s, and were first bred in the United States in 1926. They are named after German explorer Gustav Fischer.

Description

The Fischer's Lovebird has a green back, chest, and wings. Their necks are a golden yellow and as it progresses upward it becomes darker orange. The top of the head is olive green, and the beak is bright red. The upper surface of the tail has some purple or blue feathers. It has a white circle of bare skin (eyering) around its eyes. Young birds are very similar to the adults, except for the fact that they are duller and the base of their mandible has brown markings. They are one of the smaller lovebirds, about 14 cm (5.5 in) in length and 43-58 g weight.

Distribution and habitat

Fischer's Lovebird are native to a small area of east-central Africa, south and southeast of Lake Victoria in northern Tanzania. In drought years, some birds move west into Rwanda and Burundi seeking moister conditions. They live at elevations of 1 100-2 200 m in small flocks. They live in isolated clumps of trees with grass plains between them. The population is estimated to be between 290 000-1 000 000, with low densities outside of protected areas due to capture for the pet trade; export licenses were suspended in 1992 to halt any further decline in the species.

Behaviour

Fischer's Lovebird has a fast, straight flight, and the sound of their wings as they fly can be heard. They have a high-pitched chirp and are noisy.

Food and feeding

Fischer's Lovebirds eat a wide variety of foods, including seeds and fruit. They sometimes are pests to farmers, as they eat their crops such as maize and millet.

Breeding

The breeding season is January through April and June through July. The nest is in a hole in a tree 2 to 15 metres above the ground. The eggs are white and there are usually four or five in a clutch, but there could be as few as three or as many as eight. The female incubates the eggs for 23 days, and the chicks fledge from the nest about 38–42 days after hatching.

Aviculture

As is the case with all pets, the capture and breeding of wild caught birds is discouraged. Animals captured and displaced from their natural environment are more likely to get sick, depressed, and/or die.

Both sexes of Agapornis fischeri appear the same. The best way to determine the sex of a bird is through DNA testing. A competent avian veterinarian could perform a DNA analysis from a drop of blood, or a kit can be purchased from an online source. Some experts infer a birds sex by the way the bird sits on its perch. Generally, females sit with their legs further apart than males. Pelvic bone testing and surgical testing is discouraged.

Color mutations

While most of the Fischer's Lovebirds are green in color there have been some bred mutations. The 'blue' mutation is predominant and indicates a lack of yellow pigment. Usually a 'blue' Fischer's Lovebird will have a bright blue back, tail, and chest, a white neck, a pale grey head and a pale pink beak. This mutation was first bred by R. Horsham in South Africa in 1957, and two years later it was bred by Dr. F. Warford in San Francisco, California.

There is a yellow mutation, which first appeared in France. These birds are typically pale yellow with an orange face and a red beak.

Lutino (a mutation that is yellow in color), pied, black or dark eyed white, cinnamon, white, and albino mutations have also been bred.

Housing

Fischer's Lovebirds are very active and require a roomy cage. They also require lots of toys and things to chew on and play with. Without a roomy cage (a minimum of 20 x 20 x 30 inches / 50 x 50 x 75 cm for one bird, 25 x 25 x 30 inches / 65 x 65 x 75 cm for a pair. Do not buy a round cage either, as they do not properly give a lovebird a corner to hide in when they feel insecure). Without enough toys (4-6) and things to play with they may get bored, depressed and may even go as far as feather-plucking, which can be difficult to stop. It is also a good idea to provide a bird bath tub, as they love to take baths almost every day. After bathing they like to sun themselves in order to dry off. However, they should not be near any windows, or they may become sick.

Lovebirds are extremely social birds. It is generally recommended that they be kept in pairs. Otherwise the owner must be willing to spend several hours entertaining their single lovebird for the bird's emotional well-being.

Food

Fischer's lovebirds should have a varied diet of pellets, fruits, seeds, grains, sprouts, and vegetables. Pellets specifically processed for lovebirds are recommended rather than the millet food that is usually sold in pet stores. One should avoid artificial coloring and pellets that contain the preservatives ethoxyquin and BHT/BAT, which are considered toxic. Millet food should be avoided because they contain too much fat and are not nutritionally balanced. While lovebirds like this kind of food, it may decrease their life span. Generally, Lovebirds particularly like grains and different kinds of wild rice, although it is recommended that other healthier foods be mixed in with the grains to ensure that they get the vitamins they need.

An all-seed diet (or really a diet that only consists of one thing) is not sufficient and may lead to health problems, including fatty liver disease.

Personality

Each lovebird has their own individual personality, but some generalizations can be made. At first they are very timid and will get spooked by sudden movements, loud noises, or new things, even small ones. One should be very careful not to scare them too much, which can interfere with their taming. They generally do not like to be touched. Lovebirds are very smart and may even figure out how to open the door of their cage and get out.

Many owners believe the female birds, which are slightly larger, are more intelligent than the males. They are also generally more aggressive, and more likely to be territorial.

Adding to their intelligence, once they are tame and comfortable, they are very curious. If they are allowed outside their cage, one should take great care to safeguard the house by not letting them fly around the kitchen with the stove on, around any wires, around places where they could get stuck, such as behind the refrigerator, etc. A house can be a very dangerous place for lovebirds; additionally lovebirds can be rough on a house. They are avid chewers, have strong beaks and can quickly cause damage.

They also like to be clean, often preening their feathers and regularly taking baths. If let outside their cage, they may even fly to other places in order to defecate. Newspaper should be placed below their favorite areas for easy cleanup.

Fischer's lovebirds when tame make engaging pets. They are lively, curious and playful, and when out of their cage constantly explore their environment. While they are not cuddly, and do not like to be touched, they can become affectionate and quite attached to humans. They can enjoy perching on their owners, "preening" their hair and clothing, and, of course, chewing on clothing, buttons, watches, and jewellery. They are nippy, and will bite fingers and hands, sometimes aggressively, though more often simply for the pleasure of chewing something new. For some people their constant energy and constant nibbling can be off-putting, and some consider Fischer's to be better aviary birds than companion pets. Others are smitten by their single-minded exuberance.

If kept in cages it is vital that they are provided new toys on a regular basis, and frequent opportunities to explore outside of their cages, and to stretch their wings. Because of their intelligence they are liable to boredom and deression if not interacted with regularly.

Taming

Buying hand fed Fischer's lovebirds can be quite expensive, but if one wants pets to interact with, it is recommended. Because they are very timid at first, great patience is required to tame non hand fed lovebirds. With females they are much easier to tame as the males can be very timid and stubborn. Taming them enough to climb on your finger (which they don't like very much) or to get them to fly to your shoulder (which they prefer) can take years.

Lovebirds (in general) are not known for their talking ability, although there are some lovebirds that do learn words - the females are usually the ones that do this. As is the case when many smaller parrots, the "voice" of lovebirds is high-pitched and raspy and it may be difficult to understand their speech.

Potential problems

Lovebirds are very vocal birds, making loud, high-pitched noises that can be a nuisance. They make noise all day, but especially at certain times of day. That said, Fischer's are not quite as loud as some other lovebird varieties, and while they cheep frequently, they do not scream like the larger parrots. Their noise level increases substantially when they are engaged in pre-mating rituals.

As stated above, lovebirds are also extremely active, and love to chew things. It is wise to observe the birds carefully when let out of their cage, and to protect any furniture, or anything they have access to.

Fischer's Lovebirds, like many captive birds, can suffer from feather-plucking if they get bored or stressed. This is more likely to occur with single lovebirds than those kept in pairs or groups. To prevent this, the lovebirds should be provided with a wide array of toys to play with and chew on. They should have a roomy cage, and should be shown affection if they enjoy it. After feather-plucking starts, it is very hard to stop the habit. Some lovebirds do not respond to attempted treatments, and will continue to pluck their feathers for life. Providing them with plenty of toys and giving them more opportunities for entertainment will often reduce or stop the habit.

Lovebirds are notorious for attempting to build nests, especially during mating season - for this reason, loose material such as shredded paper and fabric do not make suitable toys at certain times of year, as the lovebirds could see it as nest-making material and attempt to mate. Breeding is not something that should be attempted by someone without lots of experience. "Huts" or hiding places and small enclosures are also not good for the same reason.

Fischer's Lovebirds are prone to a mysterious disease characterized by having brownish to creamish patches in their feet and legs, which is probably an infection as a result of their obsessive biting of those areas. It is not known what causes this disease. One hypotheses is that they suffer from hormonal problems caused by changing light levels and the inability to perform things Fischer's lovebirds in the wild would naturally perform, such as building a nest. Another hypothesis is that it is caused by a pathogen. If the signs are detected, fischer's lovebirds should immediately be taken to the vet. Treatments usually involve antibiotics for the wounds, and some way to stop them from continuing the biting of the area. This can sometimes be accomplished with sedatives. Use of the Elizabeth collar should be an option of last resort, as wearing them is extremely stressful both to the bird wearing the collar and to the birds around it. Some lovebirds may start feather-plucking as a result of the stress.

Female lovebirds are prone to egg-binding, an often fatal condition in which an egg cannot be laid as it gets caught in the reproductive tract. It is thought that egg binding often occurs due to a lack of liquid calcium in the diet, which causes a softer shell. To prevent this females, particularly those kept in pairs, should be given calcium supplementation in their water from a young age. Additionally, egg binding appears more likely amongst younger birds; to avoid egg binding females in captivity should be prevented from engaging in mating behaviours until at least one year of age.

Lovebirds are also known to be nippy and bossy. Although this can be seen as amusing and endearing by many owners, some do not like it; a lovebird, while a nice pet, is not for everyone. They bite very hard and love to test their limits - if the owner does not set them early on, he or she will have a bird that bites to get their way.

Sexual morphism

Fischer's Lovebirds show no sexual dimorphism, and it is impossible to tell whether an individual is male or female through plumage alone.

Rosy-faced Lovebird

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The Rosy-faced Lovebird, also known as the Peach-faced Lovebird, is a species of lovebird native to arid regions in southwestern Africa such as the Namib Desert. A loud and constant chirper, these birds are very social animals and often congregate in small groups in the wild. They eat throughout the day and take frequent baths. Coloration can vary widely among populations but females are generally darker and greener, while males are smaller and brighter. Lovebirds are renowned for their sleep position in which they sit side-by-side and turn their faces in towards each other. Also, females are well noted to tear raw materials into long strips, "twisty-tie" them onto their backs, and fly distances back to make a nest.

Description

The Rosy-faced Lovebird is a fairly small bird, 17–18 cm long with an average wing length of 106 mm and tail length of 44–52 mm. Wild birds are mostly green with a blue rump. The face and throat are pink, darkest on the forehead and above the eye. The bill is horn coloured, the iris is brown and the legs and feet are grey. The pink of the A. r. roseicollis is lighter than of the A. r. catumbella. Juvenile birds have a pale pink face and throat, a greenish fore crown and crown, and the beak has a brownish base.

Left: Wild type Right: Lutino

Distribution and habitat

It inhabits dry, open country in southwest Africa. Its range extends from southwest Angola across most of Namibia to the lower Orange River valley in northwest South Africa. It lives up to 1,600 metres above sea-level in broad-leaved woodland, semi-desert, and mountainous areas. It is dependent on the presence of water sources and gathers around pools to drink.

Escapes from captivity are frequent in many parts of the world and feral birds dwell in Arizona and London.

Status and conservation

Populations have been reduced in some areas by trapping for the pet trade. However numbers may have increased in other parts due to the creation by man of new water sources and the building of artificial structures which provide new nesting sites. Because of this the species is classed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Behaviour in the wild

The Rosy-faced Lovebird has various harsh, shrieking calls.

Feeding

The diet mainly consists of seeds and berries. When food is plentiful, it may gather in flocks containing hundreds of birds. It can sometimes be a pest in agricultural areas feeding on crops such as millet.

Feral lovebirds eating seeds from a garden feeder in Arizona, US

Breeding

Finding a pair of these birds for breeding is not easy because their sex is not easily determined. The sex can be determined by the pelvic gap which in males measures 1–3 mm while measuring 6–8 mm in females. The nest is built in a rock crevice or within a compartment of the large communal nests built by Sociable Weavers. Man-made structures such as the roofs of houses may also be used. 4-6 eggs are laid between February and April. They are dull white and measure 23.5 mm by 17.3 mm. They are incubated for about 23 days. The young birds fledge after 43 days.

Pair at nestbox

Housing

Lovebirds, being active birds, need some room to move in their cage. A cage at least 24" W x 14" D x 30" H (60 W x 35 D x 75 H cm) is a good size. The bars should be spaced no wider than 3/8" (1 cm) apart, otherwise the bird will be able to stick its head through the bars. A variety of perches will allow the lovebird to exercise its feet and prevent arthritis. The perches should be at least 4" (10 cm) long and 1/2" (13 mm) in diameter. A variety of different toys placed in the cage may prevent a pet parrot from boredom and loneliness. The parrot's chewing and playing may break some toys and small detachable parts may be dangerous to the parrot.

Feeding

Rosy-faced Lovebirds require a variety of foods, including vegetables, seeds, and fruits; nevertheless, some human foods are unsuitable or poisonous for them, including dairy products, chocolate, cheese, avocado, rhubarb, and strawberries (which contain trace amounts of carcinogenic pesticides). Perishable food that has been placed in the birds' housing for more than 24 hours is also likely to be unsuitable. Grapes, carrots, beans, squash, corn, millet, quinoa, and winterwheat are excellent foods. They can also eat various manufactured food pellets and pastas. Suitable seed and pellet mixes include a large array of different seed types.

An adult lutino in nestbox with eggs and chicks

Personality

Rosy-faced Lovebirds get their name for their affection towards their owner or other birds. Lovebirds are very playful and love to have all the attention centered around them. If trained correctly, Rosy-faced Lovebirds will happily perch on a human's shoulder. All lovebirds are unique; they all have different temperaments. Some are calmer than others, while some are extremely stubborn. All lovebirds require companionship, however, be it from a human or another Rosy-faced Lovebird purchased as a companion. Two lovebirds may not interact with a human owner as much as if they were by themselves. Two lovebirds may not get along, and may have to be separated.

Dangers and toxins

blue-green algae
avocado
Teflon
chocolate
alcohol
dog and cat saliva
household cleaners and detergents
scented candles
Volatile organic compounds

Left: Wild type Right: Pied Wild Green

Mutations

Rosy-faced Lovebirds have the widest range of colour mutations of all the Agapornis species. Generally speaking, these mutations fall into the genetic categories of dominant, codominant, recessive, and X-linked recessive. While this seems fairly straight-forward, it can quickly become confusing when a single specimen has multiple examples of these mutational traits.

Cape Parrot

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The Cape Parrot is the largest parrot of the African genus Poicephalus. It is a short-tailed medium-sized bird with an oversized beak used to crack all sorts of hard nuts, especially those of yellow pine (Podocarpus sp.), and various palms. The species is sexually dimorphic, with females sporting the bright orange frontal patch on the forehead.

The range includes portions of West Africa, East Africa, and south from there to South Africa, including the eastern Cape region.

The accepted classification describes three subspecies of the Cape Parrot. Recent (unpublished) DNA findings might indicate that the nominate Poicephalus robustus robustus may be split as a different species from the other two subspecies, but this is not widely accepted. The West African Poicephalus robustus fuscicollis and East African Poicephalus robustus suahelicus have been proposed as a new species: P. fuscicollis, and its two subspecies would be P. f. fuscicollis (the Brown-necked Parrot) and P. f. suahelicus (the Grey-headed Parrot). The common name Un-cape Parrot has gained limited popularity for the proposed new species.

Aviculture

Their low numbers seem to make Cape Parrots fairly unavailable as pets. But those that are kept as pets have demonstrated wonderful personalities, and a talking ability that rivals their larger cousin the African Grey Parrot. It is hoped that responsible and legal breeding can help to increase their numbers. The ultimate goal would be to provide them needed protection in their native habitat.

Conservation status

The nominate Poicephalus robustus robustus is endangered, but the other two subspecies are found more widely in Africa. Hundreds of volunteers do an annual count in South Africa each May which they call the "Cape Parrot Big Birding Day". Although the population is difficult to count because the birds' habitats have become fragmented, and because they fly long distances for food, recent counts seems to indicate the population has increased from about 500 specimens in May 2000 to over 1000 in May 2006. Their habitat is being eroded mostly due to logging of African Yellowwood trees, and they have suffered from the fatal Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD), a viral infection. The Poicephalus robustus robustus is now World Conservation Union (IUCN) classified as an endangered species. Over one hundred P. robustus robustus parrots are found in aviculture and its survival may depend on captive breeding programs. It is uncommon as a pet parrot. Trade and export of wild-caught Cape Parrots from South Africa has been made illegal by the international CITES agreement (appendix list II) and by South African law. A small trade still persists in the East and West African subspecies.

Senegal Parrot

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The Senegal Parrot is a Poicephalus parrot which is a resident breeder across a wide range of west Africa. It makes migrations within west Africa,according to the availability of the fruit, seeds and blossoms which make up its diet. It is considered a farm pest in Africa, often feeding on maize or millet. It is popular in aviculture.

Habitat

Senegal Parrots are birds of open woodland and savanna.It is a gregarious species, continuously chattering with a range of whistling and squawking calls. Senegal Parrots live an average of approximately 25–30 years in the wild, and have been known to live for 50 years in captivity.

Description

Senegal Parrots are about 23 cm (9 in.) long, weigh about 125 to 170 gm. (4.4-5.9 oz.) They have a relatively large head and beak for their overall size, and feathers form a short broad tail. Adults have a charcoal grey head, grey beak, bright yellow irises, green back and throat, and yellow underparts and rump. The yellow and green areas on a Senegal Parrot's front form a V-shape resembling a yellow vest worn over green. Juveniles have dark grey, almost black, irises.

Senegal Parrots are not sexually dimorphic, but there are some hypotheses which sometimes might help to determine the gender of adult birds:

The V-shape of the vest is usually longer in females; in females the green area extends down over the chest to between the legs, whereas in males the tip of the green area ends midway down the chest.
The female's beak and head are generally slightly smaller and narrower than the male's.
The under-tail covert feathers (short feathers under the base of the main tail feathers) are generally mostly yellow in the male and generally mostly green in the female
Males are generally, but not always, larger and heavier than female birds.

Reproduction

Senegal parrots nest in holes in trees, often oil palms, usually laying three to four white eggs.The eggs are about 3 cm long x 2.5 cm wide. The eggs are incubated by the female, starting after the second egg has been laid, for about 27 to 28 days. Newly hatched chicks have a sparse white down and they do not open their eyes until about two to three weeks from hatching. They are dependent on the female for food and warmth who remains in the nest most of the time until about four weeks from hatching when the chicks have enough feathers for heat insulation. During this time the male brings food for the female and chicks, and guards the nest site. From about two to four weeks from hatching the female also begins to collect food for the chicks. The chicks fly out of the nest at about 9 weeks and they become independent from their parents at about 12 weeks from hatching.

Conservation status

Because of its vast range in Africa, the wild Senegal Parrot population is difficult to estimate. Nevertheless, in 1981 concerns about extensive trapping of wild parrots for the pet trade lead to it being listed on appendix 2 of The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), along with all parrot species. This has made the trade, import and export of all wild caught parrots illegal.

Aviculture

Hand reared Senegal Parrots are one of the most popular parrots to be kept as pets, and the most popular Poicephalus parrot. Their calls are generally high pitched whistles and squawks, but they are not as noisy as many other parrot species. An indoor cage at least 4 ft x 3 ft x 3 ft or an outdoor aviary, in warm climates, at least 6 ft x 6 ft 3 ft wide would be suitable.

Wild caught Senegal Parrots do not usually become tame and do not make good pets.

Breeding

Senegal Parrots are relatively easy to breed in captivity and there is a small industry in breeding and hand rearing Senegal Parrots and other parrots for the pet trade. In aviculture Senegal Parrots can start to breed at the age of 3 to 4 years, but some do not breed until age 6 or 7 years.

Senegal Parrot nest boxes can be any of a variety of sizes and shapes; but for example, a nest box about 18 iches high and 8 inches to 10 inches square would be suitable. An exit and entrance port about 2.5 inches in diameter would be suitable, and the birds may enlarge the port by chewing the wood. Nest boxes generally have a secure side door for inspecting the nest.

Golden Parakeet

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The Golden Parakeet or Golden Conure Guaruba guarouba, is a species of also known as the Neotropical parrots. Sometimes known as the Queen of Bavaria Conure, it is the only species in the genus Guaruba.

Its plumage is mostly bright yellow, hence its common name, but it also possesses green remiges. It lives in the drier, upland rainforests in Amazonian Brazil, and is threatened by deforestation and flooding, and also by the now-illegal trapping of wild individuals for the pet trade.It is a protected species listed on CITES appendix I.

Description

The Golden Parakeet is mainly yellow with green in outer wings and with an all-yellow tail. It has a large horn-coloured beak, pale-pink bare eye-rings, brown irises, and pink legs. Male and female have identical external appearance. Juveniles are duller and have less yellow and more green plumage than the adults. The juvenile's head and neck is mostly green, the back is green and yellow, the upper side of tail is mostly green, the breast is greenish, the eye-rings are pale-grey, and the legs are brown.

Distribution and habitat

The Golden Parakeet is distributed in the northern parts of Brazil. The birds studied for a 1986 study used two different habitats during the year; during the non-breeding season, which coincided with the dry season, they occupied the tall forest. During the breeding season they left the tall forest and entered open areas on the edge of the forest such as fields used in agriculture.

Behavior

Golden Parakeets are a sociable species, living, feeding, sleeping and even breeding together. They eat fruits, flowers, buds, seeds, and cultured maize in the wild. These include the seed of Croton matouensis, which is related to the castor bean plant; Muruci fruit (Byrsonima crispa); mangoes; and Açaí fruits.

Reproduction

The Golden Parakeet has a breeding system that is almost unique amongst parrots, as pairs are aided by a number of helpers which aid in the raising of the young. This behavior is less common with parakeets in captivity, who often abandon their young after three weeks.

After the Golden Parakeet reaches sexual maturity at the age of three years, the breeding season starts in November and runs through February. They nest in a high tree, in deeper than average nesting cavities, and lay an average of four 37.1 x 29.9 millimeter eggs, which they aggressively guard. The incubation period is about 30 days, in which the male and female take turns incubating. In the first few years of sexual maturity, Golden Parakeets tend to lay infertile clutches until the age of six to eight. In captivity, Golden Parakeets will resume breeding when their chicks are taken from them.

At birth, Golden Parakeets are covered in white down that eventually turns darker within a week. By the end of the third week, wing feathers start to develop. Juveniles are playful, but may turn abusive against their peers. Nestlings are preyed upon by toucans, a fact that may explain their social behaviour. Nests are vigorously defended from toucans by several members of the group.

Conservation

The Golden Parakeet is listed on the IUCN Red List as endangered. This is largely due to deforestation and the capture of wild birds for aviculure, where in high demand due to the attractiveness of its plumage. Locally, they are considered as pests for feeding on crops, and are hunted for food or sport.

An example of the displacement of Golden Parakeets by habitat loss comes from the building of the Turucuí Dam, Pará, from 1975-1984. More than 35,000 forest dwellers were forced from what had been a habitat that was considered to be "among the richest and most diversified in the world." In addition, 2,875 square kilometers of rainforest were flooded, and 1600 islands were produced by the flooding, all of which were heavily deforested.

Red-bellied Parrot

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The Red-bellied Parrot is a small African parrot about 23 cm (9 in) long of the Poicephalus

genus. It is a mostly greenish and grey parrot. Males have a bright orange belly and females have a greenish belly.

Description

The Red-bellied Parrot is a small parrot about 23 cm (9 in) long. It is a mostly greenish and grey bird with the green being more prominent over its lower surfaces and the grey more prominent over its upper surfaces. Adult birds have green feathers covering the upper portions of their legs, red irises and dark grey beaks. The species is sexually dimorphic; males have a bright orange lower chest and abdomen, whilst adult females are greenish on these lower areas. The dimorphism occurs from a young age and is seen even in young chicks still in the nest.

Breeding

The Red-bellied Parrot nests in tree cavities. The eggs are white and there are usually three in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for about 28 days and the chicks leave the nest about 63 days after hatching.

Brown-headed Parrot

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The Brown-headed Parrot is a mostly green African parrot with a greyish-brown head and yellow under its wings. The adult birds have yellow eyes and juvenile birds have brown eyes.

The yellow under its wings explains its name cryptoxanthus, which means "hidden yellow"; from Greek xanthos or ξανθος means "yellow", and "crypto", from the Greek kryptos, is an English prefix that means "hidden" or "secret".

Aviculture

The Brown-headed Parrot are popular in aviculture. They have a very sweet temperament and tend to be a quieter bird. All parrots make some noise, but they tend to be quiet enough to make a good apartment bird.

Ruppell's Parrot

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Rüppell's Parrot or Rueppell's Parrot is a bird that is endemic in southwestern Africa from central Namibia to southwest Angola. It lives in savanna where there are trees or in dry woodland. It is more common near to streams or rivers. The name commemorates the German naturalist and explorer Eduard Rüppell.

Description

Rüppell's Parrot is 22–25 cm (9 in) long and weighs 121–156 g. It has an overall dark brown colour and its head is dark greyish. Both adult male and female birds have some yellow feathers on the leading edge of the wings, and yellow feathers covering their upper legs; in immatures, the yellow is dull or missing. They are sexually dimorphic; adult female birds have blue feathers on the lower back and the rump, whilst male birds loose this blue feather colouration as they become mature.

Breeding

The Rüppell's Parrot nests in tree cavities. The eggs are white and there are usually three or four in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for about 28 days and the chicks leave the nest about 68 days after hatching

Status

It is a protected species, listed on CITES appendix II, as are all parrots.

Meyer's Parrot

2009-11-12T03:03:00.000-08:00

The Meyer's Parrot is a small (about 21 cm), stocky African parrot. Meyer's parrots display a dull brown head, back and tail, green or blue-green abdomen, blue rump and yellow markings. Forshaw (1989) recognizes six subspecies of P. meyeri which vary in home range, size and in markings, including the extent of yellow markings on the head and wings and intensity of turquoise markings on the abdomen and rump. The name commemorates the German ornithologist Bernhard Meyer.

Range and habitat

Meyer's parrots are native to the plateau woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa where they occur in several woodland types including miombo, savanna woodlands, wooded grasslands and forests bordering watercourses or agricultural land. They are found in high densities in the Okavango Delta region of Botswana.

Behaviour

Food and feeding

Their wild diet includes fruits, seeds, nuts, berries and cultivated crops. Seeds of the various leguminous trees of the African woodlands are especially favoured, providing their staple food in some areas. Although they normally travel in pairs or small flocks, wild Meyer's Parrots may gather in much larger numbers where food is plentiful. In drought years they wander in search of food.

Breeding

The Meyer's parrot nests in tree cavities. The eggs are white and there are usually three or four in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for about 28 days and the chicks leave the nest about 60 days after hatching.

Conservation status

Meyer's Parrots are still common in the wild, although numbers have decreased locally following destruction of woodlands. The IUCN Red List classifies the Meyer's parrot as Low Risk/Least Concern. The large population, limited pressure from trade and hunting and 6,000,000 km² home range of the species make these birds unlikely to face extinction in the near future. The trade in Meyer's Parrots that have been bred in aviculture is legal. Nevertheless, Meyer's Parrots are listed on Appendix II of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), which makes the export, import and trade in wild-caught parrots illegal.

Red-fronted Parrot

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The Red-fronted Parrot, also known as the Jardine's Parrot, is a medium-sized mainly green parrot endemic across wide areas of Africa. It has three subspecies. The extent and shade of the red or orange plumage on its head, thighs, and bend of wings vary depending on the subspecies.

They are popular as pets, partly because of their ability to mimic speech and copy sounds. Trapping of wild birds for the pet trade is a potential threat to wild populations; however, they are protected by CITES (appendix II) making the trade, import and export of all wild-caught parrots illegal.

Description

The Red-fronted Parrot is 28 cm (11 in) long. It is mostly green and has a short black squarish tail. Black feathers on the head, neck, back, and wings have lighter green edges giving a scalloped appearance. The lower mandible is dark grey and the upper mandible has a horn coloured base and a dark grey tip. The irises are red-orange, the eyerings are pinkish-grey, and the legs are grey-brown. The amount of red or orange on the forecrown, the bend of the wing, and thighs varies in the three subspecies. The adult male and female are identical in external appearance. Juveniles lack red on the head and have a blackish plumage above the beak instead. Juveniles also lack red on the wings and thighs, and they have a paler beak and brown irises

Taxonomy

The first Red-fronted Parrot to be scientifically identified was named Congo Jack. The parrot was brought back live from the Congo to the United Kingdom by Sir William Jardine's son on his return from a three-year cruise on the HMS Favourite. Congo Jack became tame and whistled and screamed, rather than talk. Sir William Jardine gave the species the binomial name Pionus Gulielmi after his son, William R.N. (Latin: Gulielmi means "William's"), and published the description in 1849.

Three subspecies are now recognized:

Poicephalus gulielmi, (Jardine 1849)
- P. g. gulielmi, (Jardine 1849) - orange-red on forehead to forecrown, wings, and thighs. Endemic in the Congo River basin.
- P. g. fantiensis, Neumann 1908 - the forecrown is orange and there is an orange-red or orange on the wings, slightly smaller. Endemic from Liberia to southern Ghana.
- P. g. massaicus, Fischer & Reichenow 1884 - similar to P. gulielmi except on the head the orange-red is less extensive occurring on the forehead above the beak. Endemic in the highlands (1800 to 3500m) of southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.

Behaviour

Breeding

The Red-fronted Parrot nests in tree cavities. The eggs are white and there are usually three or four in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for about 27 days and the chicks leave the nest about 80 days after hatching.

Feeding

They fly swiftly making noisy calls above the forest canopy in pairs or small groups between their night-time roosts and feeding grounds. They feed quietly in the upper canopy of trees, where they are well camouflaged.

Pets

Usually called Jardine's Parrots, the Red-fronted Parrot is becoming an increasingly popular pet, owing to increased availability and a very vocal following. They are particularly playful and intelligent, and are capable of developing large vocabularies, often with "Grey Parrot-like clarity". Their size, temperament, and voice makes them good candidates for apartment dwellers, when compared to larger, louder birds.

Conservation status

The wild Red-fronted Parrot population in Africa is difficult to estimate, because of its vast range. They are potentially threatened by trapping of wild parrots for the pet trade; however, that are listed on appendix II of The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), along with almost all other parrot species. This has made the trade, import and export of all wild caught parrots illegal

Lesser Vasa Parrot

2009-11-12T02:57:00.000-08:00

The Lesser Vasa Parrot or Black Parrot is a black coloured parrot native to Comoros, Madagascar, Mayotte, and Seychelles. It is one of two species of vasa parrots, the other being the Greater Vasa Parrot C. vasa; although, the subspecies C. n. barklyi, of the Seychelles, is sometimes split as a third species, the Seychelles Black Parrot.

The Lesser Vasa Parrot was one of the many species originally described by Linnaeus in his 18th century work, Systema Naturae; it was given the name of Psittacus niger, meaning "black parrot". It was later transferred to the new genus Coracopsis in 1826.

Lesser Vasa Parrots inhabit the mangrove swamps and evergreen forests of Madagascar and the Seychelles Islands. They eat seeds, blossoms and fruit - especially berries and mangos.

They build their nests in tree hollows and go through courtship in February. During this time, the female may shed the feathers on her head giving it a yellowish tone. The male's beak may also turn white during this time.

Greater Vasa Parrot

2009-11-12T02:55:00.000-08:00

The Greater Vasa Parrot is one of two species of vasa parrot, the other being the Lesser Vasa Parrot. The Greater vasa parrot can be found in portions of the Madagascar dry deciduous forests, and also on Comoros.

Mascarene Parrot

2009-11-12T02:47:00.000-08:00

The Mascarene Parrot is an extinct species of parrot known from bones, specimens and descriptions to have occurred in the Mascarene island of Réunion, and possibly Mauritius. The bird was first described by Dubois in 1674. During the latter half of the 18th century, a number of birds were exported alive to France and kept in captivity; the species was described after these examples came to the attention of the taxonomists of that time, like Brisson, Linnaeus and Buffon. Three stuffed specimens were preserved at that time. Today, two remain, accompanied by a number of bones found later. One, the sole remaining of the three extant around 1800, is in the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in Paris, the other, dated 1806 and of unknown provenance, in the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna.

The Mascarene Parrot was a medium-sized bird, about as large as an Eclectus Parrot and of a similar shape, although less heavyset and with a longer tail. It was dark greyish brown on the upperside, lighter on the underside. The bases of the tail feathers were white, and the head was colored a medium lavender grey. A ring of velvet-like short black feathers surrounded the bill, which was brilliant red. The feet were reddish brown.

The "evidence" for this bird's former existence on Mauritius rests on the testimony of Peter Mundy, who saw "russett parratts" in 1638, and Johann Christian Hoffmann, who saw "red crows with recurved beaks and blue heads" called Indiaensche ravens ("Indian Crows") in the early 1670s. An illustration in the report on van Neck's 1598 voyage refers to "Indian crows" twice the size of parakeets and being two- or three-colored, but the animal depicted does not agree well with the Mascarene Parrot. All these reports are often taken to argue that the Broad-billed Parrot was multicolored and that Lophopsittacus bensoni was a valid species that was the "grey parrots" also mentioned by the early travellers. However, the Broad-billed parrot was in all likelihood flightless and thus it seems that the above-mentioned reports are more consistent with Mascarinus mascarinus. Hoffman states that the birds flew only "with difficulty", though, whereas the wing bones of the Mascarene Parrot does not suggest a reduction in flying ability. The sternum of the bird is only insufficiently known and thus it may be that the species flew badly. This, on the other hand, is in disagreement with the theory that the same taxon occurred on both islands, although Hoffman may have referred to a general unwillingness to fly until pressed, which was common for the unwary birds of the Mascarenes. Most strongly against the former existence of this species on Mauritius, however, weighs the fact that no skeletal material has turned up in the extensive collections of subfossil bones recovered to date; the fossil record of Mauritius is the most complete of the Mascarene Islands.

Extinction

By 1800, the captive birds seem to have died except one in the possession of Ludwig I of Bavaria. Bory de Saint-Vincent does not mention the bird in his description of animals encountered on Réunion in 1801, and it seems to have gone extinct in the wild by then. The Bavarian bird was figured by Carl Wilhelm Hahn in 1834 or 1835; it must have been quite old (but not necessarily unusually so for a parrot) at that time and can be assumed to have died not too long afterwards. The corpse seems to have been discarded; Hahn's depiction was the last record of the species being alive. If the species had existed on Mauritius at all, it must have disappeared at a much earlier date; Hoffman's record is the last that would agree with this species, and while the 18th century reports, vague as they are, could refer to M. mascarinus too, they most likely describe parrots that had been introduced and gone feral at that time. The reason why the species should persist on Réunion markedly longer than on Mauritius, in face of the same threats faced by it on both islands, are another puzzling aspect of the species' history.

Systematics

The species was originally judged to be closely related to the Afrotropical parrots of the Psittacini tribe due to its distribution and the absence of green coloration. However, certain characteristics such as the feathered lores and the red beak did not fit with this assignment. Study of the bones seems to suggest that the bird was, like the other Mascarene parrots and paralleling the dodo and Rodrigues Solitaire, an offshoot of the Paleotropical radiation of parrots, the tribe Psittaculini; many of its morphological aspects remind of an Eclectus or Tanygnathus parrot. But the bird's closest relatives, judging from anatomical evidence, may indeed be the Psittacula parakeets. The extinct Mascarene genera of parrots thus seem to form a distinct group in the Psittaculini clade that evolved during the widening of the western Indian Ocean simultaneously to the didine pigeons and finally wound up on the Mascarenes.

Linnaeus had the habit of abbreviating species names. Thus, his original description is of Psittacus mascarin., dropping the ending -us. Sometimes, the scientific name is thus written Psittacus mascarin, but that is neither in agreement with the current standard of nomenclature nor with the one applied by Linné himself. Nonetheless, the uncertainties about the bird's relationships and distribution - many early authors assuming it came from Madagascar - have led to a lengthy assembly of synonyms:

Psittacus mascarinus Linnaeus, 1771
Mascarinus madagascariensis Lesson, 1831
Coracopsis mascarina Wagler, 1832
Mascarinus obscurus Bonaparte, 1854
Vaza mascarina Schlegel, 1864
Psittacus madagascarensis Finsch, 1868
Psittacus mascarenus Finsch, 1868
Coracopsis obscura G. R. Gray, 1870
Psittacus madagascariensis Pelzeln, 1873
Coracopsis mascarinus A. Newton & E. Newton, 1876
Mascarinus duboisi W. A. Forbes, 1879

Camiguin Hanging Parrot

2009-11-12T01:10:00.000-08:00

The Camiguin Hanging Parrot, Loriculus camiguinensis, is a hanging parrot endemic only on the Philippine island of Camiguin, where its habitat is diminishing. The taxonomy of this population of parrots on Camiguin is uncertain.

Description

The Camiguin Hanging Parrot is mostly green with blue throat, face and thighs, and a red tail and red crown. Males and female birds look identical, which is unusual for a hanging parrot native to the Philippines. Only the males of all the other populations living on other islands have a red area on their fronts.

Taxonomy

In 2006, the hanging parrots living on the island of Camiguin, off the northern coast of Mindanao, were described as a separate species than the Philippine Hanging Parrot (Loriculus camiguinensis). However, more research and DNA analysis is required to clarify their taxonomy.

Yellow-throated Hanging Parrot

2009-11-12T01:07:00.000-08:00

The Yellow-throated Hanging Parrot is a small species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is endemic to the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali. It is found in forest and adjacent habitats. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Bismarck Hanging Parrot

2009-11-12T01:06:00.000-08:00

The Green-fronted Hanging Parrot, Coryllis Des Bismark, or Lorículo De Las Bismarck (Loriculus tener) is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea.

Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Orange-fronted Hanging Parrot

2009-11-12T01:04:00.000-08:00

The Orange-fronted Hanging Parrot is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

Sangihe Hanging Parrot

2009-11-12T01:02:00.000-08:00

The Sangihe Hanging Parrot is a small (length: 12-13.5 cm) parrot endemic to the small island of Sangihe, north of Sulawesi, Indonesia.

This is an arboreal parrot. It is predominantly green, with a red throat patch, rump, elongated uppertail-coverts and tip of tail.

In 2009 this parrot was downlisted from Endangered to Near Threatened because although it has a very small range within which there has been extensive forest loss and fragmentation, it apparently remains common in degraded and cultivated habitats and there is no evidence of a continuing decline. The current population is estimated at between 10000 and 46000 individuals.

Moluccan Hanging Parrot

2009-11-12T00:59:00.000-08:00

The Moluccan Hanging Parrot is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is endemic to forest and nearby habitats on Halmahera, Bacan and Morotai in Indonesia. It has sometimes included the Sula Hanging Parrot as a subspecies, but the two are increasingly treated as separate species based on their distinct differences in plumage and size (11 cm for the Moluccan Hanging Parrot versus 14 cm for the Sula Hanging Parrot).

Great Hanging Parrot

2009-11-12T00:57:00.000-08:00

The Great Hanging Parrot, also called Celebes Hanging Parrot, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot and Maroon-rumped Hanging Parrot, is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is endemic to Sulawesi and nearby smaller islands in Indonesia, where it occurs in forest, secondary growth and tall mangrove.

Description and taxonomy

With a total length of approximately 15 cm, it is a small parrot, but the largest species of hanging parrot. It has traditionally been considered monotypic, but recent work has re-validated the subspecies croconotus from Muna and Buton Island, and quadricolor from the Togian Islands, leaving the nominate for the population on Sulawesi itself. The plumage of the nominate is overall green with an indistinct yellowish tinge to the mantle, and a red chin, leading edge of the wing, rump and crown (the red crown is missing in females). Compared to this, L. s. croconotus has slightly paler wings and tail, and a relatively distinct yellowish tinge to the mantle, while L. s. quadricolor has a clear orange-yellow patch on the mantle, a smaller red chin-spot, and a slightly brighter red rump.

Breeding

Sulawesi Hanging Parrots nest in tree cavities. There are usually three eggs in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for 20 days and the chicks leave the nest about 33 days from hatching.

Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot

2009-11-12T00:54:00.000-08:00

The Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot, Loriculus galgulus, is a small (length: 5 inches, 13 cm) mainly green parrot found in forested lowlands from Thailand to Borneo.

Its diet includes flowers, buds, fruits, nuts and seeds.

Description

Blue-crowned Hanging Parrots are mostly green and the adults have black beaks. Adult males are have a blue crown, red throat, red rump, and a yellow lower back. Adult females are duller than males and lack the yellow lower back, usually lack the red throat, and the blue crown is much less noticeable. The juveniles are duller than the female, and have a gray forehead and a horn colored beak.

Breeding

Blue-crowned Hanging Parrots nest in tree cavities. There are usually three eggs in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for 20 days and the chicks leave the nest about 33 days from hatching.

Philippine Hanging Parrot

2009-11-12T00:51:00.000-08:00

The Philippine Hanging Parrot is also widely known as the Colasisi taken from its local Tagalog name, "Kulasisi". It is a small parrot species of the Psittacidae family. It includes about eleven subspecies, which are all native to only the Philippines; however, the exact taxonomy is unclear, and at least one of the subspecies might become split off and become separate species, if further research provides clarification.

They are mainly green with areas of red, orange, yellow, and blue varying between subspecies. Only the males have a red area on their fronts, except for the population living on Camiguin, where neither male or female have this red area. They make nests in tree holes, and unusually for a parrot the female takes nesting material back to the nest.

Description

Philippine Hanging Parrots are about 14 cm (5.5 in) long, weigh 32–40 g, and have a short rounded tail. They are mainly green with areas of red, orange, yellow, and blue varying between subspecies. The forehead is red and the irises are dark brown. Adults have red beaks and orange legs except for Loriculus (philippensis) bonapartei which have black beaks and grey legs. They are sexually dimorphic with only the males having red on their chin or upper chest, except for the Loriculus (philippensis) camiguinensis in which neither the male or female has a red bib or chest. Juveniles have less red on their heads and paler beaks, but otherwise resemble the female.

Distribution and habitat

The Philippine Hanging Parrot is native to the Philippines except the Sulu Archipelago and it is not widespread on Palawan. The different subspecies are native to different islands, and some subspecies are rare or almost extinct. Trading of birds between the islands for pets has resulted in escaped pets living on different islands to where they originated.

Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests, bamboo forest and tropical moist montane forest. It also occupies human-modified habitats including coconut groves and secondary forest. It is most common in lowland areas, being rare above 1250 m.

Behaviour and ecology

Philippine Hanging Parrots are usually encountered alone or in pairs, rarely in small groups.They mostly forage for food in the canopy or middle storeys of forests, and their diet is composed of nectar and flowers as well as soft fruits such as those from figs (Ficus).

The species is a season breeder, with nesting occurring from March to May. Like most parrots it is a cavity nester; a nest found in the wild was in a cavity high up in a dead tree. However, it is one of the few species of parrots that uses nesting material in the nest, the female tucks nesting material between feathers in order to take it back to the nest. In captivity the clutch size was 3 eggs which are incubated for 20 days. The chicks take around 35 days to fledge after hatching. The rounded eggs measure about 18.7 x 16.4 mm.

Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot

2009-11-12T00:50:00.000-08:00

The Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot is a small parrot which is a resident endemic breeder in Sri Lanka. It undergoes local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit, seeds, buds and blossoms that make up its diet.

Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot is a bird of open forest. It is strictly arboreal, never descending to the ground. It nests in holes in trees, laying 2-3 white eggs.

This is a small, mainly green hanging parrot, only 14 cm long with a short tail. The adult has a red crown, rump and bill, and an orange tint to its back.

Immature birds lack the orange hue to the back, have a duller rump, and have only a hint of orange on the crown.

Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot is less gregarious than some of its relatives, and is usually alone or in small groups outside the breeding season. Its flight is swift and direct, and the call is a sharp whistled twiwittwit..twitwitwit.

In Culture

In Sri Lanka, this bird is known as Gira Maliththa or Pol Girwa in Sinhala Language.Hanging Parrot appears in a 15c Sri Lankan postal stamp,

Vernal Hanging Parrot

2009-11-12T00:47:00.000-08:00

The Vernal Hanging Parrot is a small parrot which is a resident breeder from India eastwards to Southeast Asia. In Sri Lanka, it is replaced by the very similar endemic Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, (L. beryllinus). It undergoes local movements, driven mainly by the availability of the fruit, seeds, buds and blossoms that make up its diet.

Vernal Hanging Parrot is a bird of dry jungle and cultivation. It nests in holes in trees, laying 2-4 white eggs.

This is a small, mainly green hanging parrot, only 14 cm long with a short tail. The adult has a red rump and bill, and blue throat patch.

Immature birds have a duller rump, and lack the throat patch.

Vernal Hanging Parrot is less gregarious than some of its relatives, and is usually in small groups outside the breeding season. Its flight is swift and direct, and the call is a raucous chattering.

Breeding

Vernal Hanging Parrots nest in tree cavities. There are usually three eggs in a clutch. The female incubates the eggs for 20 days and the chicks leave the nest about 33 days from hatching.

Princess Parrot

2009-11-12T00:43:00.000-08:00

The colourful Princess Parrot, is an Australian bird of the parrot family. Its name was given in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who later married the Prince of Wales Edward VII and eventually became the Queen of England. Other names for the species include: Queen Alexandra Parrot (or Parakeet), Alexandra's Parakeet, Princess of Wales Parakeet, Rose-throated Parakeet, and Spinifex Parrot. Their plumage is mostly green with a pink throat, bluish crown and rump, and bright green shoulders. The tail is long and narrow, They are becoming quite rare in the wild and their numbers seem to be dwindling

Description

The Princess Parrot is a medium sized parrot, 34 to 46 cms long. The plumage is mostly green with a pink throat, bluish crown, and bright green shoulders. The rump is blue and the tail is long and narrow. The males have longer tail feathers and brighter coloring than females. The male also has a coral-red beak, while the female's is duller and has a greyish crown. Another difference is that the male has an orange iris, while the female's is much browner. In addition, the male of the species has a longer, projecting extension from the end of the 3rd primary (flight) feather on each side. This projection is called a 'spatula' or 'spatule". It appears in mature male birds.

Behaviour

This species is nomadic, arriving in small groups to breed and then disappearing. It is one of Australia’s least known parakeets because it is so elusive, even though it is spread across the interior of Australia. It inhabits arid woodland and scrub with spinifex, eucalypts, acacias, etc. They are unusual among parrots in engaging in mobbing behaviour against predators. They feed on the seeds of grasses and shrubs.

Breeding

Four to six white eggs are laid which are incubated for 19 days. The chicks leave the nest about 35 days after hatching.These parakeets are truly opportunistic breeders, with pairs choosing to nest when food is plentiful. They nest in a hollow in a eucalypt or desert oak.

Aviculture

The Princess Parrot can make loud calls. Their life span is thought to be as long as 30 years. Under the right circumstances they are able to bond to more than one member of the family. They are a favourite among many aviculturists and pet owners because of their looks and personality.

There are three common color mutations of this parakeet. These colours are Lutino, Albino, and Blue. The natural, or 'normal' color is green.

Regent Prrot

2009-11-12T00:41:00.000-08:00

The Regent Parrot is a bird of the parrot family (Psittacidae). The bird is found primarily in eucalyptus groves and other wooded areas of subtropical southwestern Australia, as well as to a smaller area of subtropical and temperate southeastern Australia. The parrot is also known variously as the Rock Pebbler, Black-tailed Parakeet, Smoker, Marlock Parakeet and sometimes Regent Parakeet. While the western subspecies (Polytelis anthopeplus anthopeplus) is listed as "lower risk" or "least concern", the eastern subspecies (Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides) is listed as endangered.

Description

The Regent Parrot grows to approximately 14½-16½" (37-42 cm) in length, and exhibits sexual dimorphism. The male bird is generally yellow, with several shades on the head; its back is generally a collection of colorful shades of green; its beak generally red. The female is generally more green, overall, especially in the head and body. The tail is green, although the underparts are black.

Behaviour

Diet

Captive Regent Parrots thrive on chopped mixtures for large parrots. They also like eggfood, fruit, sprouting seeds and a small assortment of insects. Unlike most birds parrots do not require grit in their diet, grit should only be given when a certified avian veterinarian prescribes it for digestion aid if the bird is ill. An occasional fresh willow or fruit tree branch to "spruce up" their quarters seems to please the birds. The Regent Parrot is naturally hardy, so being careful to protect them from drafts and the like is unnecessary. That said, however, they should be protected from excessive cold, as such is uncommon in their natural habitat.

Reproduction

The female broods 3-8 eggs for approximately 21 days. During this period she seldom departs from the nest, if at all, and is fed by the male. When the young have hatched, they are cared for by both the male and female. During this period, they can be fed several times their normal portion of feed, which they readily convey to their young. The young begin to fly at about 5 weeks. Sexual maturity is reached at about 2 years of age.

Superb Parrot

2009-11-12T00:37:00.000-08:00

The Superb Parrot (also known as Barraband's Parrot, Barraband's Parakeet, or Green Leek Parrot), is a parrot native to southeastern Australia. It is a monomorphic species and one of three species in the genus Polytelis.

The Superb Parrot is mostly bright green with darker flight feathers and is about 40 cm (16 in) long with a long pointed tail. Adult males have continuous yellow foreheads, and throats, with a red horizontal band across the border of the throat.

Taxonomy

First described by French naturalist Desmarest in 1826, the Superb Parrot, a monomorphic species, is one of three species in the genus Polytelis of long-tailed parrots. Common names include Superb Parrot and, in avicultural circles, Barraband's Parrot or Parakeet, or Green Leek (although the last is applied to several unrelated species). Its closest relative is the Regent Parrot.

Description

The Superb Parrot is a medium-sized bright green parrot, approximately 40 cm (16 in) long, with long tail feathers, yellow-green below and yellow-orange irises. The adult male has a scarlet band upper chest, bright yellow face and throat. The adult female has a pale blue-green face, greyish-green throat, a variable tinged russet-pink fore-throat, and orange thighs. Juveniles have brown irises and otherwise resemble females. The male has adult coloured plumage at the age of about one year.

Distribution and habitat

An Australian endemic, the Superb Parrot is restricted to the dry (sclerophyll) woodlands of New South Wales and Victoria. There is estimated to be 6500 adult individuals in the wild.

Behaviour

It nests on hollow limb or a hole in a tree.During breeding season, small flocks of males often forage for food alone. Pairs may nest in a loose colonial system of as many as 6 pairs, so hens are in the neighborhood at this time. The diet consists mainly of eucalypt flowers, fruits, nectar and pollen. It consumes seeds and green heads of the Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora).

Conservation Status

International

Due to ongoing habitat loss in Australia, small population size and limited range, the Superb Parrot is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.

Australia

Superb Parrots are listed as vulnerable on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Their conservation status also varies from state to state within Australia; for example, the Superb Parrot is listed as threatened on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988). Under this Act, an Action Statement for the recovery and future management of this species has been prepared.

Threatening processes

During February-June 2005, "accidental" logging in the Barmah State Forest destroyed 60 per cent of the nesting colonies of the Superb Parrot (6000 tonnes of river red gums): with fewer than 150 breeding in Victoria this has severely compromised their chances of survival.

In December 2008, dozens of reports were filed of Superb Parrots being hit by cars. NPWS wildlife officials speculated that the parrots had gorged on grain spilled from an uncovered truck and became unable to move, eventually being hit by automobiles.

Red-winged Parrot

2009-11-12T00:34:00.000-08:00

The Red-winged Parrot, is a parrot native to Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Description

The Red-winged parrot is typically about 30 to 33 cm (12-13 in) in length. Both sexes have bright red wings and a bright green body. The male birds have a black nape, lower blue back and rump with a yellow tip on their tail, an orange bill and grey feet. The female birds on the other hand have a yellowish green body and the wings have red and pink trimmings on their wings. Also distinguishing the females are a dark iris and the lower back is a light blue colour. Juveniles have orange/yellow beaks and pale brown irises, and otherwise resemble females in colouration. Males develop adult plumage at about the age of two years and females at the age of about a year and a half.

Distribution and habitat

Their range is from the Pilbara, Western Australia to Cape York Peninsula, Queensland (to be seen almost all over Queensland) and as south as northeast South Australia. They are occasionally spotted in Papua New Guinea. These birds inhabit riverine forests, forest edges, acacia scrub, savanna, mangroves, and farmlands. They are seen often in pairs or flocks near water.

Diet

Their diet typical consists of seeds from eucalyptus, acacia, berries, flowers, and insects. The birds' call are "ching-ching", "chink-chink" or thin screeching.

Breeding

The birds typically breed in spring and summer but breeding times depends on their location. A hollow space in a tree usually acts as nest for breeding with a height of 11 metres from the ground. Generally, three to six white eggs are laid per season, the eggs being 31 millimetres in length. The female incubates while the male searches for food. The chicks stay with their parents for about five weeks. It has been hybridised with the Australian King Parrot. The hybrid is fertile and breeds true to form.

Papuan King Parrot

2009-11-12T00:26:00.000-08:00

The Papuan King Parrot, also known as the Green-winged King Parrot, is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is found in West Papua and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests

Description

The Papuan King Parrot is 36 cm (14 in) long including a long broad tail. It has dark grey legs and orange irises. The three subspecies of the Papuan King Parrot all show sexual dimorphism and in all three subspecies the male can be identified by a prominent broad pale-green band on each wing (resembling a shoulder stripe). The differences in the females between subspecies are more marked than the differences in the males.

The male has a red head and neck, red lower parts, blue back and rump, green wings each with a broad band of pale-green. In the male of A. c. chloropterus the blue extents upwards from the back to the hind neck. In the female the of A. c. chloropterus and A. c. calloterus the abdomen is red, the green over the head and neck is continuous with green of the back and wings, and the chest has vague transverse green and red striations. The female of subspecies A. c. moszkowskii has a red head, neck, chest, and lower abdomen resembling the male, and differs from the male with its much smaller pale-green wing band.

Distribution and habitat

Found on in central and eastern New Guinea east of the Weyland Mountains, it lives in forests up to an altitude of 2600 metres.

Behaviour

Birds are encountered in ones or twos, or in small flocks up to ten birds. It feeds quietly in dense forest generally in small trees or low branches of large trees, and are often unnoticed.They eat berries, fruit, seeds and possibly some insects.

Moluccan King Parrot

2009-11-11T17:19:00.000-08:00

The Moluccan King Parrot, Alisterus amboinensis, is a parrot that is endemic to Peleng Island, Maluku and West Papua in Indonesia. It is sometimes referred to as the Ambon King Parrot or Amboina King Parrot, but this is potentially misleading, as it is found on numerous other islands than Ambon. The male and female are similar in appearance, with a predominantly red head and underparts, green wings (blue in one subspecies), and blue back and tail. Six subspecies are recognised, but only a few of these are regular in aviculture. In the wild, it inhabits rainforests and feeds on fruits, berries, seeds and buds.

Description

An adult Moluccan King Parrot measures 35–40 cm (14 in) in length and has a red head and chest, outer wings dull green (except in subspecies hypophonius, where blue), mantle, lesser wing coverts and tail-coverts dark purple-blue. Tail darker blackish blue, irises orange, and the legs are dark grey. The lower mandible is blackish, and the upper mandible is orange-red with a blackish tip, except in the subspecies buruensis, where the entire bill is blackish. Unlike the other species of king parrots, the Moluccan King Parrot does not display sexual dimorphism; that is, the sexes have similar plumage. Juvenile birds have a dark-brown bill tipped paler, greenish mantle, dark brown irises and red-tips to lateral tail feathers. Birds reach maturity in one year.

Behavior

Encountered alone or in pairs, occasionally in small groups, it mainly frequents dense cover in the lower and mid-levels of forests. It is inconspicuous and rather quiet, except in flight. It consumes fruit, berries, seeds and buds. Nesting takes place in a tree-hollow. The breeding season begins in February and March, although breeding has not been observed in the wild, in captivity the clutch consists of two eggs which are incubated for 19 days. After hatching the chicks are ready to fledge at nine weeks old.

Habitat and status

The Moluccan King Parrot inhabits rainforests, but sometimes enters nearby plantations and gardens. Exceptionally, it occurs at altitude up to 2100 m, but more commonly below 1200 m (New Guinea) or 1600 m (Maluku).

The Moluccan King Parrot is generally uncommon due to habitat loss and capture for the parrot trade, but remains locally common at least on the Sula Islands, Halmahera and Buru. Overall the species is not believed to be in immediate danger, and consequently is listed as Least Concern by BirdLife International and IUCN. As most parrots, the Moluccan King Parrot is listed in Appendix II of CITES.

Aviculture

Until recently only the subspecies amboinensis and hypophonius were seen regularly seen in aviculture, but buruensis and dorsalis are now also present, at least in zoos. It has regularly been bred in captivity for example in Denmark.

Electus Parrot

2009-11-11T12:53:00.000-08:00

The Eclectus Parrot, Eclectus roratus, is a parrot native to the Solomon Islands, Sumba, New Guinea and nearby islands, northeastern Australia and the Maluku Islands (Moluccas). It is unusual in the parrot family for its extreme sexual dimorphism of the colours of the plumage; the male having a mostly bright green plumage and the female a mostly bright red and purple/blue plumage. Joseph Forshaw, in his book Parrots of the World, noted that the first European ornithologists to see Eclectus Parrots thought they were of two distinct species. Large populations of this parrot exist in Papua New Guinea, where they are sometimes considered pests for eating fruit off trees. Their bright feathers are also used by native tribes people as decorations.

Description

The Eclectus Parrot is unusual in the parrot family for its marked sexual dimorphism in the colours of the plumage. The male is mostly bright green with blue primaries, and red flanks and underwing coverts, while the female is mostly red with a blue abdomen and nape in most subspecies, purple abdomen and nape in the subspecies from the north and central Maluku Islands (roratus and vosmaeri), and red abdomen and nape in the subspecies from Sumba and Tanimbar Islands (cornelia and riedeli). Females of several subspecies have a yellow-tipped tail; taken to the extreme in riedeli and vosmaeri which also have yellow undertail coverts. The upper mandible of the adult male is orange at the base fading to a yellow towards the tip, and the lower mandible is black. The beak of the adult female is all black. Adults have yellow to orange irises and juveniles have dark brown to black irises. The upper mandible of both and male and female juveniles are brown at the base fading to yellow towards the biting edges and the tip.

Taxonomy

Ornithologists usually classify the Eclectus Parrot as a member of tribe Psittaculini in the Psittacidae family of order Psittaciformes. However, some recent thought indicates that there is a great deal of commonality between the Eclectus Parrot and the Loriinae tribe. The Eclectus Parrot is the most sexually dimorphic of all the parrot species. The contrast between the brilliant emerald green plumage of the male and the deep red/purple plumage of the female is so marked that the two birds were, until the early 20th century, considered to be different species.

It is thought that there are nine (possibly ten) subspecies of Eclectus Parrots, with differences in size and colouring. In captivity, some of the most common subspecies are the Solomon Island, the Vosmaeri, and the New Guinea Red-sided.

Grand Eclectus (Eclectus roratus roratus)
Solomon Island Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus solomonensis)
New Guinea Red-sided Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus polychloros)
Australian Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus macgillivrayi)
Vosmaer's Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus vosmaeri) - sometimes called the Vos Eclectus
Aru Island Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus aruensis)
Westerman's Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus westermani) – doubtfully valid.
Sumba Island Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus cornelia)
Tanimbar Islands Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus riedeli)
Biak Island Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus biaki)

Although the Eclectus Parrot is the only extant species in the genus Eclectus, fossil remains of another species, Oceanic Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus infectus), have been found in archaeological sites in the islands of Tonga and Vanuatu (Steadman 2006). The species presumably existed in Fiji as well. E. infectus had proportionally smaller wings than the Eclectus Parrot. The species went extinct after the arrival of man 3000 years ago, presumably due to human-caused factors (habitat loss, introduced species).

Diet

The diet of the eclectus in the wild consists of mainly fruits, unripe nuts, flower and leaf buds, and some seeds. Two favorite fruits are the pomegranate and the papaya (pawpaw) with seeds. In captivity, they will eat most fruits including mangos, figs, guavas, bananas, any melons, stone fruits (peaches etc), grapes, citrus fruits, pears and apples. The eclectus has an unusually long digestive tract and this is why it requires such a high fiber diet.

Aviculture

Eclectus parrots are one of the more popular birds kept in captivity, as either parent or hand reared. Unlike many other species of parrot they are relatively easy to breed yet difficult to hand feed. Eclectus in captivity require vegetables high in beta-carotene, such as lightly cooked sweet potato, fresh broccoli clumps, and fresh corn on the cob. Fresh greens such as endive or commercial dandelion are a very important in providing calcium and other nutrients. As with all pet birds, they should not be fed avocado, chocolate, or high fat junk foods such as French fries or commercially processed human foods such as pizza. Parrots are unable to digest the lactose in milk. Spray millet is one of the seed items they enjoy, though the Eclectus diet should typically contain much less seed than other birds. A variety of soaked and cooked beans and legumes, along with brown rice, provided in limited amounts help provide protein. Nuts and seeds provide vitamin E, but should be limited in order to avoid too much fat in the diet, as Eclectus parrots can become obese.

The captive Eclectus can be susceptible to muscle spasms known as toe-tapping and wing flipping, the causes of which are not clear. These movements have not been observed in the wild. Potential causes include calcium deficiency, consumption of pellets or other foods that are overly fortified or artificially colored, or even simple dehydration. Fortified or artificial foods may also cause allergic reactions in some individuals, including severe itchiness leading to feather and skin damage.

Blue-backed Parrot

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The Blue-backed Parrot is also known as Müller's (or Mueller's) Parrot, or Azure-rumped Parrot. This parrot is endemic to the Philippines, and Sulawesi and nearby islands in Indonesia. It occurs in forest and nearby habitats (including cultivated areas) at altitudes up to 800 m. Flocks are small and often active at night. Known to eat crops, including corn.

Description

It is of medium size (32 cm), basically green with yellowish edging to the wings, a blue rump, and blue wing bends. The head, mantle, wings and tail are darker green, the belly and collar are lighter green. It is sexually dimorphic, with the male having a red beak and the female a pale yellow or horn colored beak. There are six subspecies:

T. s. sumatranus: Sulawesi and nearby islands. Yellow iris.
T. s. sangirensis: Sangir Islands and Karakelong. More blue on wing bends and wing coverts, head darker green. Yellow iris.
T. s. burbidgii: Sulu Islands. Darker green with lighter collar. Yellow iris.
T. s. everetti: Panay, Negros, Leyte, Samar, Mindanao. Mantle and back darker, rump and head lighter. Some blue in mantle. Red iris.
T. s. duponti: Luzon. Dark green with yellow collar. Yellowish underwing coverts. Iris red.
T. s. freeri: Polillo Islands. More uniform color with less contrast, more yellow on nape. Iris red.

Blue-naped Parrot

2009-11-11T12:48:00.000-08:00

The Blue-naped Parrot, also known as the Blue-crowned Green Parrot, Luzon Parrot, the Philippine Green Parrot, and locally known as Pikoy, is a parrot found throughout the Philippines including the Talaud Islands and islands off north and east Borneo (with introduced population in Borneo itself, e.g. Kota Kinabalu). It is a medium size parrot (31 cm), primarily green except for a light blue rear crown and nape, pale blue lower back and rump, scalloped shoulders with orange-brown on black coverts, and blackish underwings with green underwing coverts.

It is found in secondary forest, forest edge and plantations up to 1000 m. Flock size is usually under a dozen. They feed on berries, seeds, nuts and grain. Habitat loss and trapping have made them scarce on most islands except Mindoro and Palawan. Though the Katala Foundation has raised concerns over the increasing illegal trade in this bird on Palawan.

Great-billed Parrot

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The Great-billed Parrot, also known as Moluccan Parrot or Island Parrot, is a medium-large, approximately 38 cm long, green parrot with a massive red bill, cream iris, blackish shoulders, olive green back, pale blue rump and yellowish green underparts. The female is typically smaller than the male, but otherwise the sexes are similar.

The Great-billed Parrot is found in forest, woodland and mangrove in the south-east Asian islands of Maluku, Raja Ampat, Talaud, Sangir, Sarangani, the Lesser Sundas, and nearby small island. The diet consists mainly of fruits.

It remains widespread and locally fairly common, and consequently has been rated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Buru Racket-tail

2009-11-06T02:41:00.000-08:00

The Buru Racket-tail, also known as the Buru Racket-tail (Prioniturus mada), is a monotypic species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is endemic to forest on the island of Buru, one of the Maluku Islands of Indonesia.

Description

The Buru Racket-tail is a mainly green parrot about 32 cm (12.5 inches) long. The beak is blackish and lighter at the base, and the long undertail-coverts are yellow. The adult male has blue upper-parts from the back of its head to mid-back and which extends into the upper surfaces of the forewings. The female has a small area of blue on the nape. Juveniles do not have racket-shaped tail feathers. The male juvenile has a little blue on the nape and the female juvenile has all-green upper-parts.

Blue-crowned Racket-tail

2009-11-06T02:39:00.000-08:00

The Blue-headed Racket-tail, is a parrot found on all the larger islands of the Philippines not starting with "P" (i.e., not Palawan or Panay). It is 27 cm, basically green with a blue crown, bluish undertail, whitish beak, and dark underwings with green coverts. The Blue-headed Racket-tail (P. platenae) was formerly included in this species.

Red-cheeked Parrot

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The Red-cheeked Parrot is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.

Brehm's Tiger Parrot

2009-11-05T22:59:00.000-08:00

Brehm's Tiger Parrot, Psittacella brehmii, is also known as Brehm's Ground Parrot. It is a small (19-24 cm) parrot found in the highlands of New Guinea, from 1,500-2,600m (extremes 1,100-3,800m). It is mainly green with a dull olive brown head, yellow and black bars on the mantle, back and rump, and red undertail coverts. The males have a yellow crescent on the side of the neck; females do not, but have a barred breast.

There are four subspecies occurring in three distinct populations:

P. b. brehmii: Bird's Head Peninsula, West Papua.
P. b. intermixta: Central highlands of New Guinea. Underparts and barring on back more yellowish-green. Larger.
P. b. pallida: SE highlands of New Guinea. Like nominate but narrower bill.
P. b. harterti: Huon Peninsula (NE New Guinea). Paler head, less yellowish-green. Smaller.

In Brehm's central range the Painted Tiger Parrot, P. picta, takes over above 2700m, but that species is not found in the Huon range, where Brehm's ranges higher. They are found singly or in small groups and feed on seeds and berries in the sub-canopy or near ground level.

Blue-rumped Parrot

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The Blue-rumped Parrot, Psittinus cyanurus, is a parrot found in the very southern tip of Myanmar, peninsular Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra and nearby islands. It is a small parrot (18 cm) and is primarily green with bright red underwing coverts, a reddish shoulder patch, and yellowish margins on the wing coverts. It is sexually dimorphic. The female has a grey-brown head. The male has a black mantle, red upper mandible, and blue head and rump.

It is the only member of the genus Psittinus.

There are three subspecies:

P. c. cyanurus: Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, Sumatra.
T. l. pontius: Mentawi Islands S from Siberut. Larger than the nominate subspecies.
T. l. aabbottii: Simeulue. Male head mostly green except around eye and ears, black mantle smaller. Even larger than pontius

It is found in lowland forests, generally below 700m, in forest, open woodland, orchards and plantations, mangroves, dense scrub, and coconut groves. It occurs in flocks up to 20 birds. They eat seeds, fruit and blossoms.

Ground Parrot

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The Ground Parrot is one of only four ground-dwelling parrots in the world, the others being its closest relative, the extremely rare Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis), the somewhat closely related Antipodes Island Parakeet (Cyanoramphus unicolor), and the unrelated highly endangered Kakapo (Strigops habroptila) from New Zealand.

The coloration of the two Pezoporus species and the Kakapo is similar – yellowish-green with darker barring, somewhat reminiscent of the head and back of the wild-type budgerigar. This is not an indication of a true relationship, however, but either adaptation to a particular lifestyle or a feature retained from ancestral parrots; probably the latter as barred plumage is found all over the family, from the tiny tiger parrots to female cockatiels.

When disturbed, the Ground Parrot flies swiftly just above the ground before dropping back into the vegetation. The presence of the bird is often only revealed by its characteristic dusk and dawn call, a clear whistling sequence of notes which rise in pitch before fading. It is silent in flight.

Scarlet-chested Parrot

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The Scarlet-chested Parrott, known alternately as Scarlet-breasted parrot, Orange-throated parrot or Splendid parrot, is a parrot endemic to central South Australia and inland southern Western Australia. These nomadic parakeets move readily from the Great Victoria Desert region into neighbouring areas. These interruptions are triggered by a search for more favourable conditions. They can survive quite well without access to drinking water, however, as succulent plants help meet much of their fluid requirement. They feed mainly on grass seeds and are most commonly sighted in spinifex.

Turuoise Parrot

2009-11-05T22:52:00.000-08:00

The Turquoise Parrot is a parrot previously widespread in Eastern Australia, though now mainly found in northeastern New South Wales and north-eastern Victoria.

A small parrot at around 20 cm long, the male is predominantly green in colour and more yellowish below with a bright turquoise blue face and chestnut shoulders on the blue and green wings. Females are generally duller and paler and lack the chestnut wing patch.

It is found in grasslands and open woodlands, and feeds on grasses, seeds and nectar.

Aviculture

Captive-bred birds adapt readily to aviary conditions, and the species is widely bred. Several colour forms are seen in captivity, including a yellow, red-fronted and pied form (all recessive), and jade and Olive (dominant).

Orange-bellied Parrot

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The Orange-bellied Parrot is a small broad-tailed parrot endemic to Australia.

The adult male is distinguished by its bright grass-green upperparts, yellow underparts and orange belly patch. The adult female and juvenile are duller green in colour. All birds have a blue frontal band and blue outer wing feathers. The diet consists of seeds and berries of small coastal grasses and shrubs.

The Orange-bellied Parrot breeds in Tasmania and winters in coastal grasslands on southern mainland Australia. With an estimated wild population of around 180 birds, it is regarded as a critically endangered species.

Description

It is a small parrot around 20 cm (8 in) long; the adult male has bright green upperparts, and yellow below with a prominent, two-toned blue frontal band, a green-blue uppertail with yellow sides, and an orange patch on its belly. The under wing-coverts and flight feathers are dark blue, with paler blue median wing-coverts. Its iris is dark brown and beak and feet greyish. The adult female is a duller green with a paler blue frontal band. The juvenile is a duller green colour.

The Orange-bellied parrot utters soft tinkling notes, as well as a distinctive rapidly repeated chittering alarm call unlike that of other members of the genus. The alarm call is a quickly repeated tzeet.

Distribution and habitat

Orange-bellied Parrots only breed in South West Tasmania. The entire population migrates over Bass Strait to spend the winter on the coast of south-eastern Australia. These few sites contain their favoured saltmarsh habitat, and includes sites in or close to Port Phillip such as Werribee Sewage Farm, the shores of Swan Bay, Swan Island, Lake Connewarre State Wildlife Reserve, Lake Victoria and Mud Islands, as well as French Island in Western Port.

Behaviour

The Orange-bellied Parrot is found in pairs or small flocks, and generally remain on the ground or in low foliage searching for food. Their diet consists of seeds of species such as the grass Poa biliarderi, saltbush (Atriplex cinerea), Suaeda australis and sea heath (Frankenia pauciflora), as well as berries, such as those of Coprosma. They have also been reported eating kelp.

Reproduction

Breeding season is October to January with one brood raised. The nest is a hollow in a tree, less than 5 m (16 ft) above the ground. Four or five white eggs are laid measuring 20 mm x 23 mm.

Conservation status

This species has a very small population and although numbers are stable or increasing at one intensively-managed breeding site in Tasmania, numbers continue to decline at outlying sites, and it is assumed to be declining overall. It is therefore listed on the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered. The current wild population is estimated at around 150 individuals, with a further 100 or so birds in captive breeding programs.

Rock Parrot

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The Rock Parrot (Neophema petrophila), known alternately as Rock Elegant, is a parrot endemic to coastal South Australia and southern Western Australia, as well as offshore islands. Among the islands they are found on are Rottnest Island. It is a small, predominantly olive green parrot. Grass seeds form the bulk of its diet.

Description

The Rock Parrot is 22 cm (8½ in) long and predominantly olive-brown in colour with a dark blue frontal band line above with lighter blue. The lores and parts of the cheek are pale blue, this is less extensive in females. The breast is olive-grey, and duller in females, while abdomen and vent are yellow. The wings are predominantly olive with outer flight feathers blue. The yellow edged tail has shades of olive and blue. The bill and legs are grey and the eyes dark brown. Juveniles are duller and lack the frontal bands.

Distribution and habitat

Rocky islands and coastal dune areas are the preferred habitats for this species, which is found from Robe, South Australia westwards across coastal South and Western Australia to Shark Bay

Behaviour

Rock Parrots eat seeds of grasses, shrubs and succulent plants, such as Carpobrotus species, in coastal habitats. They can be approached easily while feeding

Blue-winged Parrot

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The Blue-winged Parrot, Neophema chrysostoma, also known as the Blue-banded Parakeet or Blue-banded Grass-parakeet, is a small parrot (20cm) found in Tasmania and southeast Australia. It is mainly olive green with a blue frontal band reaching from forehead to eye, blue wing coverts, Black primaries, and a yellow belly. The top of its tail is bluish-grey, the sides and undertail are yellow.

It is sexually dimorphic - the females are duller and have more green on the wings.

It is found in savannah woodland, grasslands, orchards, farmlands, marshes, heath, dunes, and other open habitats up to 1200m. Many migrate between Tasmania, where they breed in spring and summer, and Australia, where they winter. They often feed on the ground, eating seeds, blossoms, fruit and insects. Flock size ranges from pairs in breeding season to up to 2,000 birds just before autumn migration.

Bourke's Parrot

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The Bourke's Parrot, formerly known as Neophema bourkii), also known as the Bourke's Parakeet or "Bourkie", is a small parrot originating in Australia and the only species in its genus Neopsephotus. This species is sometimes placed in the genus Neophema and there is an ongoing discussion about the proper taxonomic placement of this species. It is a grass parrot approximately 19 cm long and weighing around 45 grams. It is named after General Sir Richard Bourke, Governor of New South Wales from 1831 to 1837.

Description

Wildtype (natural coloured) Bourke's Parakeet display a basically brown overall colouration with pink abdomen, pinkish breast & a blue rump. The legs are dark-brown, with zygodactyl toes. The bill is yellowish-brown. The adult male has a blue brow while the adult female has a white brow.

Breeding

The Bourke's Parrot has a clutch of 3 to 6 eggs, which are incubated by the female for 18–19 days, with the chicks fledging at about 4 weeks of age. The female also feeds and tends to the chicks by herself. While the female Bourke's Parrot is incubating the eggs, and also while she is feeding the chicks in the nest, she is fed by the male Bourke's Parrot

Opaline Budgerigar mutation

2009-11-05T07:53:00.000-08:00

The Opaline budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour or appearance of budgerigars. It is the underlying mutation of the Opaline variety. When combined with the Yellowface II and Clearwing mutations the Rainbow variety is produced.

Appearance

The Opaline mutation is characterised by several features which are invariably present, although many show variations in the intensity of their expression. The most obvious effect is on the striations which extend from the top of the head down the neck to between the wings in the non-Opaline. In the Opaline these striations are very much reduced in intensity, being almost absent in many individuals, particularly in small birds of yellow (as opposed to buff) feather. The cap of the Opaline extends further back over the top of the head, gradually merging into an area the same colour as the body which continues down the back of the head to form a 'V' shape between the wings. The intensity of the striations in this area is variable, but in the original mutations, particularly the Australian, the 'V' was very clear.

In the non-Opaline the wings show dark grey or black markings over a yellow or white ground, but in the Opaline the ends of the barbs of the wing coverts assume the same colour as the body, rather than the ground colour. This suffusion of body colour in the wings produces the opalescent effect which gave the mustation its name. The area of black pigmentation in each feather is reduced and in the original specimens the wing butts were particularly devoid of black pigment, resulting in a clear area often called the 'thumb-print'. These thumb-prints appear to be associated with a clear 'V', but are now seen less often, since the Budgerigar Standard calls for normal wing markings in the Opaline.

The flight feathers of the budgerigar consist of 10 primaries and 10 secondaries. These are dark grey with a clear central band across every feather from the 2nd primary to the 8th secondary. These clear areas are not visible in the folded wing, but form a prominent continuous band running right along the wing when it is stretched out. It is hidden from above by the coverts but is visible from beneath. In the Opaline this clear band is present on every flight feather and is much broader. Only the distal half of the flight feather is dark, with the clear zone extending from the mid-point to the shaft. Because it is broader it is visible in the primaries of the folded wing of the Opaline, just beneath the secondaries and primary wing coverts, as a small clear patch.

A similar effect occurs in all the wing feathers, most noticeably in the primary and secondary wing coverts, and also in the six tail feathers, which carry a similar clear band on feathers 2 to 6 in the non-Opaline. The first (longest) tail feather of the Opaline also carries a rather blotchy clear area of somewhat variable extent, and the suffusion of body colour present to a small degree in the non-Opaline is intensified in the Opaline.

Most Opalines show a brighter body colour than the corresponding non-Opaline, paricularly in nest feather and particularly in the rump area. This is due to a reduction in the melanin content of the barbules of the contour feathers.

The final characteristic of the Opaline (and the Cinnamon) is the colour of the down feathers of the young nestling. These are white instead of the usual grey, and this allows Opalines to be identified at a very early age.

Ino Budgerigar Mutation Information

2009-11-05T07:43:00.000-08:00

The Ino budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is the underlying mutation of the Albino and Lutino varieties and, with Cinnamon, a constituent mutation of the Lacewing variety.

Appearance

In the green series the Ino is known as the Lutino, with pure yellow contour feathers, white or pale yellow flight feathers and tail feathers and silvery-white cheek patches. In some lights the body can show a very pale green sheen.

In the blue series the Ino is known as the Albino, and is pure white throughout. The cheek patches are almost the same colour as the body, but slightly more silvery. In some lights the body can show a very pale blue sheen.

The eyes of both the Lutino and Albino are red at all ages with white irides when adult, the beak is orange and the feet and legs are pink. The cere of an adult Ino cock is greyish-purple rather than blue.

The World Budgerigar Organisation has established precise standards for some budgerigar body colours using the Pantone Codes, as shown to the right for the Lutino.

The Ino mutation also induced changes in the nestling. The down is white rather than grey and appears only sparsely, never growing down the centre of the back. As the feathers appear, those down the spine and along the ventral centre line are late to develop.

The Ino gene masks the effect of virtually all other mutations, including Opaline, Dark, Dominant Grey, Dilute, and Clearwing. These genes, when present in an Ino in either heterozygous or homozygous form, cause no change in the appearance of the Ino. But the Ino gene does not entirely mask Cinnamon. A Cinnamon Ino, usually called a Lacewing, has pale brown or fawn spots, tail and wing markings. These markings are quite clear, but considerably fainter than the markings of a normal Cinnamon.

The Dark-eyed Clear has a similar body colour to the Ino, but has solid reddish-purple eyes without a white iris.

Cinnamon Dilute German Fallows, NSL Inos and Inos are all very similar and difficult to distinguish from each other, but the first two are so uncommon difficulties arise rarely in practice.

Albino hen

Historical notes

The first known reference to the Ino mutation in the budgerigar was a report by Mr L van der Snickt, a Belgian fancier, in the German avicultural paper Die Gefiederte Welt (The Feathered World) in 1879. He wrote that he had seen that year nine Lutinos, all hens. (In fact, he called them Albinos, since the name Lutino did not then exist, but from his description and the fact that the Blue mutation was not established until the 1880s it is clear they were Lutinos.) One breeder of these birds was Mr Kessels, also of Belgium, who in 1881 bred 25 Lutinos, all hens.

A coloured picture of a Lutino appeared in the Brussels journal, Acclimatation Illustrée, in 1882, and it is thought they were being bred in Holland around 1885, while in England Mr C P Arthur of Melksham in Wiltshire bred what he believed was a pair of Inos around 1887. After the 1880s no mention seems to have been made in the press of Inos until the 1930s, when interest in budgerigar mutations suddenly increased.

In 1930/31, Lutino hens were owned by both Capt H S Stokes of Longdon, near Rugeley in Staffordshire, and Mrs Huntington of Warwick. In August 1932 Mr F J Mullis of Horsham, Sussex, bred an Albino hen. None of these led to an established strain.

In September 1931, Mr E Böhm of Bawerk in Germany bred, as the last of nine young from a pair of Cobalt split Dilutes, a snow-white red-eyed hen - the first recorded Albino. Almost exactly a year later, on 12 September 1932, a second Albino hen was bred by Mr Fischer of Honow in Germany from a pair of Skyblues. Both of these strains were established by the original breeders and also by others who acquired early stock from them, in particular by Kurt Kokemüller of Arnum über Hanover, and Mr Schrapel, also of Hanover, who performed together the first genetic investigations into the Ino mutation and published the first correct pairing expectations in the German publication Der Wellensittich (The Budgerigar) in November and December 1933.

A third appearance of the Ino mutation occurred in Germany around 1933, when Mr Kuhlewein bred a Lutino hen in an uncontrolled breeding flight. This strain was also established.

Albino hen and Lutino cock

Other Ino mutations also appeared in Europe in the early 1930s, and several British fanciers, including Walter Higham, Scott and Camplin, and Tod Boyd, had imported continental Lutinos by the mid-1930s. Some of these turned out to be of the non-sex-linked type and the unwitting mixing of the two mutations led to considerable confusion. All British Inos seem to have descended from these imported continental Inos.

In 1976, Dr T Daniels began a controlled programme of pairings to produce a Cinnamon Ino by deliberately crossing Cinnamons to Inos, and to estimate the cross-over value between these two mutations. The first Cinnamon Ino was produced in late 1979 and was identical in appearance to a Lacewing.

Genetics

The Ino mutation is a sex-linked recessive at the ino locus on the X chromosome. The wild-type genetic symbol is ino⁺ and the ino mutant allele has the symbol ino. Its effect is to inhibit the production of the melanin pigment which is normally present in all feather barbs in either the medullary or cortical cells or both. The presence of black melanin pigment in the cortex of the barbs is necessary for the production of the black markings and in the medulla of barbs for the production of the blue colouration (which combines with the yellow pigment in birds of the green series to produce the green colouration), so this mutation removes all black and blue colourations resulting in a white bird in the blue series and a yellow bird in the green series.

Because the Ino mutation totally inhibits the production of normal melanin pigment it prevents the visible expression of all the other mutations which depend on the presence of melanin to show their effect. This is called epistasis, and Ino is phenotypically epistatic over many other mutations, including Dark, Grey, Opaline, and the Dilute series. It is not epistatic over the Blue mutation, so there are two forms of the albino budgerigar, one in the green series called the Lutino and one in the blue series called the Albino. Both these varieties may be masking many other hypostatic mutations, so the genotype of an Albino or Lutino with respect to these mutations cannot be determined visually. Nor is the Ino mutation epistatic over the Cinnamon mutation

In birds, the cock has two X chromosomes and the hen has one X and one Y chromosome. So in hens whichever allele is present on the single X chromosome is fully expressed in the phenotype. Hens cannot be split for Ino (or any other sex-linked mutation). In cocks, because Ino is recessive, the Ino allele must be present on both X chromosomes (homozygous) to be expressed in the phenotype. Cocks which are heterozygous for Ino are identical to the corresponding Normal. Such birds are said to be split for Ino, usually written '/ino'.

The table on the right shows the appearance of all possible genetic combinations involving just the Ino mutation.

The Ino mutation does not mask the Cinnamon mutation, these two genes being neither fully epistatic nor hypostatic to each other. When combined in doubly homozygous form (cin-ino/cin-ino in cocks or cin-ino/Y in hens) the Lacewing phenotype is produced. The Cinnamon markings are clearly visible, although considerably fainter than in a normal Cinnamon. For many years the Lacewing was thought by many to be a separate mutation but it was demonstrated in 1979 that it was simply a Cinnamon Ino when a Lacewing was deliberately produced by combining separate Cinnamon and Ino genes. Once brought together, these two genes are almost always inherited together due to the close linkage between them, giving the impression of being a single gene.

The Ino mutation is a member of a series of multiple alleles at the ino locus. Only one other member is known -- the Sex-linked Clearbody mutation. For details of the genetic relationship, see the Genetics section in the Sex-linked Clearbody article.

The Ino gene is linked to other genes located on the X chromosome, i.e. to the genes of other sex-linked mutations. In addition to the Cinnamon mutation, these mutations include Opaline and Slate. The cross-over or recombination values between Ino and these linked genes has not been measured accurately, but some approximate measurements of the cross-over values have been made:

Albino cock

Cinnamon-Ino COV: Breeding results collected by C Warner and T Daniels found just 1 crossover in 36 between Cinnamon and Ino. Other measurements found at least 1 cross-over in 18, so combining these the best estimate of the recombination value is ≥4±3%.

Opaline-Ino COV: Only one direct measurement of the Opaline-Ino linkage has been reported. This found 3 cross-overs in 10, giving a recombination value of 30±17%. But since the ino locus is very close to the cinnamon locus the COV for Opaline-Ino must be very similar to that for Opaline-Cinnamon. The Opaline-Cinnamon linkage has been measured to be approximately 36±6% (see Genetics in Opaline budgerigar mutation), so these two results are in agreement within the limited statistics.

Cocks split for both Cinnamon and Ino have one Cinnamon allele and one Ino allele together with one each of the corresponding wild-type alleles. The linkage between the Cinnamon and Ino genes gives rise to two types of split cinnamon-ino cocks, both visually identical.

Type I split cinnamon-ino cocks are bred by mating Cinnamon-Inos (Lacewings) to Normals and have the two mutant alleles on the same chromatid, symbolised as cin⁺-ino⁺/cin-ino. Geneticists call this 'coupling' rather than 'Type I'. Because of the linkage, the Cinnamon and Ino alleles from Type I cocks tend to be inherited together in their progeny. When mated to Normal hens, Type I cocks produce predominantly Cinnamon-Ino (Lacewing) and Normal hens, with Cinnamon and Ino hens resulting extremely rarely from a cross-over. Roughly 48% of the hens will be Cinnamon-Ino (Lacewing), 48% Normal, 2% Cinnamon and 2% Ino.

Type II split cinnamon-ino cocks are bred by mating Cinnamons to Inos and have the Cinnamon and Ino mutant alleles on opposite chromatids, symbolised as cin⁺-ino/cin-ino⁺. Geneticists call this 'repulsion' rather than 'Type II'. Because of the separation, the Cinnamon and Ino alleles from Type II birds tend to be inherited separately in their progeny. When mated to Normal hens, Type II cocks produce predominantly Cinnamon and Ino hens, with Cinnamon-Ino (Lacewing) and Normal hens resulting extremely rarely from cross-overs. Roughly 48% of the hens will be Cinnamon, 48% Ino, 2% Cinnamon-Opaline (Lacewing) and 2% Normal.

Hens cannot be split for any sex-linked gene, so only cocks exist in Type I and Type II form.

Cinnamon Budgerigar Mutation

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The Cinnamon budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is the underlying mutation of the Cinnamon variety and, with Ino, a constituent mutation of the Lacewing variety.

Appearance

All the markings which appear black or dark grey in the corresponding Normal appear brown in the Cinnamon, of a shade similar to that of white coffee. The Cinnamon markings on cocks tend to be considerably darker than on hens. The long tail feathers are lighter than Normals. The body color and cheek patches are much paler, being about half the depth of colour of the Normal. The feathers of Cinnamons appear tighter than Normals, giving a silky appearance. It is these quiet pastel shades and the sleekness of the plumage that give the variety its appeal.

The eyes of the newly-hatched Cinnamon are not black like the eyes of Normals, but deep plum-coloured. This colour can be seen through the skin before the eyes open, and immediately after opening a reddish-brown gleam can be seen. A few days later the eye darkens and is then barely distinguishable from the that of a Normal chick, but by this time the difference in down colour is visible: Normal chicks have grey down, but Cinnamon (and Opaline and Ino) chicks have white.

The skin of Cinnamon chicks is also redder than than Normal's, and this persists into adulthood: the feet of Cinnamons are always pink rather than bluey-grey. The beak tends to be more orange in colour.

Superficially, the Cinnamon is very like the two types of Fallow, the German Fallow and the English Fallow, but the eye of the Cinnamon is the usual black with white iris (except for the first few days after hatching, when it is purplish or plum-coloured) whereas the eyes of both varieties of Fallow are red at all ages. The body colour of the Cinnamon is also a rather deeper shade of green or blue than that of the Fallows.

Historical Notes

Cinnamon specimens of many species have been observed in the wild. A stuffed Cinnamon Light Green budgerigar hen owned by Mrs Ellis of Cottenham, Cambridgeshire, in 1935 and said then to be at least 50 years old was thought by Cyril Rogers to be wild-caught when he examined it.

The first Cinnamon to be reported in Britain was a Cinnamon White Blue hen bred in 1931 from a pair of Light Green split blues by Miss M E J Hughes and her brother Mr G N Hughes of Hampton Hill, Middlesex. This bird was exhibited in 1931 and 1932, although not described as a Cinnamon as that name had not then been adopted. The mutant hen and its sire died without further issue. Mr I J J Symes gave a description of what he called "the brown factor" in this bird, saying the wing markings varied from raw umber to burnt sienna.

Mr A D Simms, of Potter's Bar, also in Middlesex at the time, paired together several Dark Green split greywing siblings in 1931 bred from an Olive cock and a Greywing Light Green hen. Among other, eight Greywing Greens, all hens, were bred which showed a "rather peculiar colour in their nest feathers". These hens were probably Cinnamons or Greywing Cinnamons, but as the Cinnamon variety was not known at the time they were regarded as slightly strange Greywings.

Mr G F Porter of Codicote, near Hitchin, in Hertfordshire, obtained a pair of Dark Green split greywings from Mr Simms, and he too bred what he called Greywing Green hens. One of these he paired to a Cobalt split dilute cock and this pairing produced, among other progeny, a Cobalt cock which was later found to be split for Cinnamon and Dilute. This cock, paired to a Dark Yellow split blue hen, bred a Cinnamon Skyblue hen in early 1933. Other pairings of descendents from Mr Simms' Dark Green split greywings produced a Cinnamon Olive and a Cinnamon Cobalt for Mr Porter, also in 1933. Towards the end on 1933 M Porter bred a Dark Green Cinnamon cock—the first Cinnamon cock to appear in Britain.

Mrs A Collier of Luton also bred two Cinnamon hens in 1933, a Mauve and an Olive, but as these were both from stock obtained from Mr Porter, these were almost certainly the same mutation. Mrs Collier was the first to report the characteristic plum-coloured eyes of the very young Cinnamon chick, perhaps being prompted to look for this as it was already a known characteristic of the Cinnamon Canary.

Further Cinnamons appeared in 1933 in the aviaries of Mr G Hepburn of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. These Cinnamons were bred from a pair of Light Greens obtained from a dealer in Aberdeen, but the ring on the cock showed it came from a Mr Banham, who lived near Victoria Station in London. Mr Hepburn attempted to trace the origin of his birds but was unable to establish a firm link to Mr Simms' birds. Nevertheless, all three Cinnamon mutations, those of Messrs Hughes, Simms and Hepburn, originated within a circle of 15 miles radius and within two years of each other. This strongly suggests the importation of a single Cinnamon carrier cock into the Middlesex area around 1930.

Mr S E Terrill reported that the first Australian Cinnamon appeared about August, 1931, near Adelaide. In 1934 Mr Terrill said he had "four or five cock Cinnamons of two, probably three, generations and about 36 Cinnamon hens of at least three generations." Mr Schumacher, of Magdeburg, Germany, also bred budgerigars with brown wings in 1932, but he disposed of them the year after and it is not known if these were Cinnamons.

Towards the end of 1934 the Budgerigar Society recognised the Cinnamon variety for exhibition purposes and published its show standard.

Violet Budgerigar Mutation

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The Violet budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is one of the constituent mutations of the Violet variety.

Appearance

The Violet factor produces a visual effect in any bird which carries it. The effect depends on whether the Violet factor is single or double, and whether the Dark and Blue mutations are present. In total there are 18 visually different combinations of these three mutations. However, only three of these approximate to the colour specified by the Visual Violet exhibition standard.

The World Budgerigar Organisation has established precise standards for some budgerigar body colours using the Pantone Codes. The colours of the recognised blue series varieties, including Visual Violet, are shown on the right.

Green series

SF Violet Light Greens have contour features similar in shade to a Dark Green, but the faint ribbing present in the body feathers of a Dark Green is lacking, giving the feathers of the Violet Light Green a more satin-like finish. The tail feathers are paler than the navy blue of the Dark Green, rather like those of the Light Green, particularly near the quill end, and Violet Light Greens lack the dark blue colour present in the flight feathers of Dark Greens.

SF Violet Dark Greens have a body colour mid-way between a Dark Green and an Olive.

SF Violet Olives are very similar to Olives.

DF Violet Light Greens, Dark Greens and Olives are expected to be slightly darker than the corresponding SF birds, but these colours have not been reported reliably.

Blue Series

SF Violet Skyblues have a body colour ranging from dark skyblue to medium cobalt. Most look rather like pale Cobalts. The colour of the tail and flight feathers are the most reliable distinguishing features. Cobalts have navy blue tails throughout their length, while Violet Skyblues have tails which shade to turquoise at the quill end. The flight feathers of Cobalts are dark blue, those of Violet Skyblues have a glossy turquoise iridescence rather like those of Skyblues but slightly darker.

Visual Violet cock

SF Violet Cobalts have a bright violet body colour, and are known as Visual Violets.

SF Violet Mauves are quite similar in appearance to normal Mauves. Sometimes a violet tinge is visible in Violet Mauves when placed next to a Mauve, particularly in the rump area.

DF Violet Skyblues are similar in shade to SF Violet Cobalts but are a deeper richer violet colour. These, too, are Visual Violets. Their tails are dark blue with a residual pale blue or turqoise at the quill end, whereas SF Violet Cobalts have uniform dark bluey-violet tails.

DF Violet Cobalts are similar to SF Violet Cobalts but usually have a deeper richer violet colour. These are also Visual Violets.

DF Violet Mauves are believed to be similar in colour to SF Violet Mauves.

Historical Notes

In Australia, Mr A Burton of Sydney was breeding Violets by 1934 and Mr Harold Pier exhibited a Violet in the same year.

In Europe, the first mention of a bird which might have been a Visual Violet was by C af Enehjelm in 1935 in Copenhagen. In a letter to the Budgerigar Bulletin, he said he had bred a Cobalt, "which I would call violet". In a later article he gave full details of his Violet birds, remarking that earlier birds he had seen which were bred in Germany in the late 1920s and marketed as Violets were little different from normal Cobalts and lost their violet colour with age. His first true Violet, mentioned above, was bred from an apparent Dark Green/blue cock obtained from a friend and a Cobalt hen. This Dark Green/blue cock was "very heavily suffused with blue (cobalt)". Presumably it was in fact a SF Violet Light Green/blue. He went on to breed several more Violets from the progeny of this bird.

Skyblue cock

In 1924 in England and 1932 in Australia birds called "Royal Blues" were bred, but these were not Violets. In the UK the opinion of the highly respected budgerigar breeder, C H Rogers, writing in 1937, was that a true Violet was first seen in England at the Cambridge Diploma Show that year. The Violet hen was exhibited by Stevenson and Tucker. As they had eight other birds of the same colour they must have first bred Violets some years earlier.

As Violet Light Greens are very similar in appearance to Dark Greens it seems likely that a small number of Violet Light Greens were being bred in several places in the 1920s, masquerading as Dark Greens. Their true nature remained hidden, only being revealed when they were mated to birds of the blue series. This could not happen until blue budgerigars became readily available, which was not until the 1930s.

Genetics

The Violet mutation has an incompletely dominant relationship to its wild-type allele. That is, there are three distinct phenotypes, possessing zero (the wild type), one (the single factor heterozygote) and two (the double factor homozygote) Violet alleles, with the heterozygote having an intermediate appearance between the wild-type and the homozygote.

Because the Violet factor is always visibly expressed no budgerigar can be split for Violet. The heterozygotes of Violet — the SF Violet Greens and Blues — correspond to the splits of the recessive mutations.

Cobalt cock

The Violet mutation is autosomal, but it has not yet been determined whether there is a linkage to any of the other budgerigar mutations. There has been a long-held view that the Violet mutation was linked to the Blue and Dark mutations, but doubt has been cast on this. It seems more likely that the unexpected breeding results which prompted the view were caused by incorrectly identifying birds carrying single and double Violet factors. There is no reported measurement of this or any other linkage.

In the past there was a view that the Violet allele was lethal in double factor form, but this is now disproved with many breeders reporting DF Violets.

Dominant Grey budgerigar mutation

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The Dominant Grey budgerigar mutation, often called the Australian Grey or simply Grey, is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is the basis of the Grey-Green and Grey standard varieties.

Appearance

The Dominant Grey mutation transforms the wild-type Light Green into the Grey-Green variety and the Skyblue into the Light Grey variety. The body colour of the Grey-Green is a dull mustard green and, compared to a Light Green, the mask is a slightly duller tone of yellow. The body colour of the Light Grey is an even, uniform, battle-ship grey.In both the blue and green series birds the flights and long tail feathers are black. The pattern of black on the wing and tail markings is unchanged, but they are darkened to a jet black, resulting in high contrast between the black and yellow, which is particularly noticeable in the tail bar when the bird is in flight. The cheek patches are lilac-grey.

When combined with the Dark mutation the body colour of both Greys and Grey-Greens becomes slightly darker, but the effect is much smaller than the effect of the Dark mutation on Light Greens and Skyblues.

As this is a dominant mutation the colour changes described above apply to both single factor (SF) and double factor (DF) Greys and Grey-Greens. The only difference between SF and DF birds is in the colour of the afterfeather and shaft (see Feather) of the contour feathers. In the SF Light Grey these are the normal white but in the DF birds the afterfeather is dark grey, with a black shaft.

The World Budgerigar Organisation has established precise standards for budgerigar body colours using the Pantone Codes, as shown to the right.

Light Green cock

Historical Notes

The earliest recorded appearance of the Dominant Grey mutation was in 1934, when Mrs S Harrison of Murrumbeena, Victoria, Australia, purchased a Grey cock from a dealer. The original breeder has not been identified. Early breeding results showed this Grey to be a Dark Grey (SF)/dilute, and Mrs Harrison went on to establish a substantial strain of Greys from this bird.

In 1936, it was reported that W F Shepherd of Kew, Victoria, also had Greys which he obtained from a colony breeder, and a Grey was also bred independently by R Hancock of Beverley, South Australia, in 1935.

Dominant Greys were first imported to Britain around 1937, one by Mrs R Brown of Morecambe for Mr Walter Higham, and one, from R Hancock's stock, by Tom Goodwin.

Genetics

The Dominant Grey allele is dominant over its wild-type allele, so a bird possessing a single Dominant Grey allele (the heterozygote or single-factor Dominant Grey) is converted from the wild-type Light Green to Grey-green as described in Appearance above. That is, the presence of a single Dominant Grey allele is sufficient to permit the full expression of the mutation.

Grey-Green cock

The double-factor Dominant Grey, with two Dominant Grey alleles, is identical in appearance to the single-factor Dominant Grey, although there is some evidence that the colour of the breast afterfeathers is changed from white to grey in the double-factor bird.

The Dominant Grey gene is located on one of the autosomal chromosomes. There is no known linkage of this gene with any other mutation.

Yellowface I budgerigar mutation

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The Yellowface I budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars.

Appearance

The Yellowface I Skyblue variety is the same in appearance as a normal Skyblue except that the forehead and mask, which is white in the normal Skyblue, is replaced by bright yellow, the short tail feathers show yellow instead of the normal white, and the undulations on the wings are often faint yellow. The yellow on the mask tends to leak down onto the breast to a small degree, giving it a green tinge. In juvenile plumage the yellow is considerably fainter and does not appear on the forehead, which is barred in the usual way, nor does it leak onto the breast to as great an extent.

The Yellowface I Cobalt and Yellowface I Mauve varieties have similar yellow markings.

The appearance of birds with other combinations of the Yellowface I mutation is discussed under Genetics below.

Historical Notes

In the UK, a yellowfaced bird was first produced in 1934-1935 by E H Stevenson of Cambridge - a yellowfaced Cobalt cock, and Mrs G Lait of Grimsby and J Long of Gorleston-on-Sea both bred them in 1935. A contemporary report of these latter breedings says, "Mrs Lait mated a dark green cock to a greywing mauve hen, and in their third nest was a pale greywing mauve hen with a distinct (light lemon yellow) mask and bib, with the under tail feathers yellow and with yellow on the wings in the places where the normal blue bird is white. This hen ... was mated with a cobalt/white cock and they have produced five youngsters, all having yellow masks like their mother. Mr Long's birds were bred from a dark green of a somewhat olive shade mated to a rather unusually coloured hen, which appears to be a green but has a turquoise suffusion on the breast, etc. The first nest produced 3 cobalt birds with yellow masks, etc, like Mrs Lait's birds described above, and one green-blue bird like the mother. The second nest produced exactly the same result."

By 1937 several breeders in the UK had yellowfaced birds, and Stevenson and Tucker exhibited one at the Crystal Palace in that year. Yellowfaced birds were also being bred in Europe, as it was reported that W H Higham imported one in 1937, and in Australia. In all, there were at least seven reports of yellowfaced birds appearing between 1934 and 1937, seemingly independently. Some of these were very similar, others were slightly different. It is impossible to tell now which of the yellowface mutations were involved, but as some of the reports mentioned normal-looking birds which bred 100% yellowfaced young it seems likely that these at least were the Yellowface I mutation.

Genetics

The genetics of the several Yellowface mutations and their relation to the Blue mutation are not yet fully and definitively understood.

Much confusion and misunderstanding have arisen because the popular names given to these mutations are misleading. These mutations do not generate a yellow face, as the names might suggest. Rather the action of all these mutations is to reduce the yellow pigmentation, either entirely or to some degree, with respect to the wild-type Light Green. Had these mutations been named 'Yellow-less' rather than 'Blue' or 'Yellowface' their action might have been more easily understood from the outset. But the traditional names are engrained and are retained here.

The prevailing view is that the Yellowface I mutation, together with the Yellowface II and Blue mutations, are members of an allelic series situated at the Blue locus. Although some breeders still dissent from this view it is the one followed here.

On its own, the Yellowface I is a simple autosomal recessive with respect to the wild-type. Visibly, its action appears to be identical to that of the Blue mutation. The heterozygote or Light Green/yellowface I with one Yellowface I allele and one wild-type allele is visibly indistinguishable from a Light Green, and the homozygote with two Yellowface I alleles is visibly indistinguishable from a Skyblue. Due to this similarity in the action of the Blue and Yellowface I mutations, Bergman and Onsman have adopted the convention that these mutations be named Blue I and Blue II.

The Yellowface I Skyblue variety, described in Appearance above, is a composite of the Blue and Yellowface I mutations, having one allele of each. When two Yellowface I Skyblues are paired together, half the progency will be Yellowface I Skyblues and half will be normal Skyblues in appearance. But half of these apparent Skyblues will, in fact, be double factor Yellowface I's.

The loci of the Dark budgerigar mutation and the Blue allelic series are situated on the same autosome, so the Dark mutation is linked to the Blue allelic series (see genetic linkage). The cross-over value (COV) or recombination frequency between the Dark and Blue loci is commonly stated to be about 14%, but some experiments have found much smaller values (see Genetics in the Dark budgerigar mutation).

Blue budgerigar mutation

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The Blue budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is part of the genetic constitution of the following recognised varieties: Skyblue, Cobalt, Mauve and Violet.

Appearance

The Blue mutation changes the colour of the body feathers, which are light green in the wild-type, to skyblue and the colour of mask and other parts which are yellow in the wild-type, to white. In the domesticated bird this mutation changes the Light Green variety into the Skyblue variety, the Dark Green into the Cobalt and the Olive into the Mauve.

The green colouration of the wild budgerigar is due to the combined effect of a yellow pigment and an interference effect similar to that which gives colour to petrol on water, which in the budgerigar produces a blue colouration. Yellow pigment is present in the outer layer (cortex) of the cells forming the barbs of all feathers of the wild budgerigar with the exception of the cheek patches, although it is very weak in the outermost flight feathers. The distribution of the yellow pigment is clearly shown in the Lutino. The Blue mutation totally inhibits the production of this yellow pigment, and as far as is known, it has no other effect.

The yellow pigment in young budgerigars is paler than in adults, which makes green budgerigars in nest feather appear duller and Lutinos appear paler. A brighter and stronger yellow colouration appears after the first moult.

The chemical nature of the yellow pigment in budgerigars and other psittacidae is unknown, and in the absence of a chemical name George A Smith coined the term "psittacins" to cover the yellow, orange and red pigments found in parrots and parrot-like birds. Psittacins impart a far more constant intensity of colour to feathers than do the more commonly found carotenoid pigments such as xanthophyll, the yellow pigment found in the canary. At each moult the canary extracts xanthophyll directly from its food, and the depth of colouration of the growing feathers is determined by the concentration of xanthophyll in its diet. Budgerigars cannot be colour-fed in this way, because they do not use xanthophyll as a pigment.

The Blue mutation provides a widely accepted division of domesticated budgerigars into two colour classes: the "Green series" and the "Blue series". Birds of the Green series exhibit yellow pigmentation, while birds of the Blue series lack yellow pigmentation. These names can be misleading, since some birds belonging to the Blue series, such as Albinos, are not blue; similarly, Lutinos belong to the Green series, yet are not green.

In combination with the Dark budgerigar mutation the body feathers become deeper shades of blue. A blue budgerigar with a single Dark factor is called a Cobalt, and one with two Dark factors a Mauve. The World Budgerigar Organisation has established precise standards for budgerigar body colours using the Pantone Codes, as shown to the right.

Skyblue cock

Historical Notes

The Blue mutation made its first recorded appearance in 1878 in the aviaries of M Limbosch of Uccle, a suburb of Brussels, but this strain died out, it is believed, in 1881. Blues appeared independently in Holland between 1881 and 1885, and a Mr Pauwels of Everberg, near Brussels, reintroduced them to Belgium from this Dutch strain.

The first Blues to be seen in England were some exhibited by Messrs Millsum and Pauwels at the Horticultural Hall in 1910 and the Crystal Palace in 1911. Mr D Astley owned Blues in 1911, and it is recorded that C Pelham Sutton of Putney bred a Blue in 1912.

Blues remained quite rare until the 1930s, fetching up to £100 per pair in Japan around 1928, about the cost of a car at the time.

Genetics

The Blue mutation is recessive to its wild-type allele, so a bird possessing a single Blue allele (the heterozygote) is identical in appearance to the wild-type light green. That is, the presence of a single wild-type allele is sufficient to permit the full production of the yellow psittacin pigment. Among the budgerigar fancy such a bird is said to be a Light Green split blue, usually written Light Green/blue. In a bird which has two Blue alleles (the homozygote), the lack of the wild-type allele means the yellow pigment can no longer be produced, and so the body colour is blue — the Skyblue.

The locus of the Blue gene is situated on one of the autosomal chromosomes. The Yellowface Blue I mutation, the Yellowface II mutation form an autosomal co-dominant series of alleles with the Blue mutation.

Light Green Cock

Dark Budgerigar Mutation Information

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The Dark budgerigar mutation is one of approximately 30 mutations affecting the colour of budgerigars. It is part of the genetic constitution of the following recognised varieties: Dark Green and Olive in the green series and Cobalt, Mauve and Violet in the blue series.

Appearance

Budgerigars carring the Dark factor are identical to the wild-type Light Greens or Skyblues in every respect except body colour and tail feathers. The body is darker in Dark Greens and Cobalts and darker still in Olives and Mauves, and the long tail feathers are darker in proportion. All these varieties have normal violet cheek patches.

The Dark Green's body colour is a rich shade of laurel green, and Cobalt's a deep blue, approximating to royal blue. The Olive is similar in shade to a Grey-green, but it may be easily distinguished by its cheek patch, which is violet in the Olive and grey in the Grey-green. The Mauve is rather a dull colour, quite different from the brilliant Violet and Cobalt. In nest feather the Mauve is a shade of lavender, almost grey, but the violet cheek patch, although somewhat darker than in other varieties, identifies it as a Mauve.

The Violet Cobalt (a composite of the Blue, Dark and Violet mutations) is a brilliant shade of violet, rather similar but not quite as deep as and rather bluer than the wild-type violet cheek patches.

The World Budgerigar Organisation has established precise standards for certain budgerigar body colours using the Pantone Codes, as shown to the right.

Historical notes

The Dark mutation ^[1] is common in the wild as Dark Green budgerigars have been observed in wild flocks on several occasions^[2]. One of the earliest to be seen was one captured during an expedition to Australia and exhibited in a London museum in 1847 ^[3]. But the Dark mutation was not seen in the domesticated budgerigar until the summer of 1915 when a Dark Green was observed by Monsieur A Blanchard in his aviaries in Toulouse ^[3] ^[4]. At the time, Toulouse was the main commercial centre for budgerigar distribution in Europe, handling thousands of imported and aviary-bred birds each year. The origins of this first Dark Green are not known. Dark Greens were known initially as Laurel Greens, a name which remained popular throughout the 1920s.

Light Green cock

Dark Green cock

Olive cock

Mon. Blanchard produced the first Olives from a pair of Dark Greens in the autumn of 1916^[5], and J D Hamlyn imported some of the early Olives to England from France in 1918^[6].

The first Cobalts were bred by Mon. Blanchard in 1920^[5], and by George F Hedges in 1923^[6] while he was the aviary attendant for Madame Lecallier in France. These were initially called Powder Blues^[5]. Some of these latter Cobalts were purchased by Mrs Dalton Burgess and imported to England^[6]. She exhibited one (as a Royal Blue) in February 1924 at the Crystal Palace and later that year bred the first Mauves from them^[3]. She called the Mauves French Greys in nest feather, and when adult they were known as Lilacs or Lavenders.

The blue forms of the Dark mutation were far more popular than the Greens and commanded fantastic prices in the mid-twenties. In February 1927 Mauves and Cobalts were sold for £175 a pair, but by 1931 the price was down to £2 a pair, as more and more were quickly bred.

Genetics

The Dark mutation has an incompletely dominant relationship with its wild-type allele. That is, it shows a visible effect when present as a single factor (heterozygote) and a different effect when present as a double factor (homozygote). In the green series varieties the Dark Green has one Dark allele and one wild-type allele at the Dark locus and the Olive has two Dark alleles. In the blue series varieties the Cobalt has one Dark allele and one wild-type allele and the Mauve has two Dark alleles.

Olive cock

Skyblue cock

Because the Dark factor is always visibly expressed no budgerigar can be split for Dark. The heterozygotes of Dark — the Dark Greens and Cobalts — correspond to the splits of the recessive mutations.

The loci of the Dark mutation and the Blue allelic series are situated on the same autosome, so the Dark mutation is linked to the Blue allelic series (see genetic linkage). The cross-over value (COV) or recombination frequency between the Dark and Blue loci is often stated to be about 14%^[7], but several careful measurements of this COV show quite widely varying results. Early measurements by Duncker and independently by Steiner obtained values of 14% and 7.6% respectively, and T G Taylor and C Warner collected results which showed only 5 cross-overs in 140 - a COV of 3.6% ^[8]. Included in these were results from T G Taylor's own experiments, in which he found no cross-overs in 86 birds bred^[8]. It is now known that the environment and other genes can influence the COV, so some variability should be expected. A reasonable average of these measurements is a COV of 8%.

Dark Green/blues have one Dark allele and one Blue allele together with one each of the corresponding wild-type alleles. The linkage between the Blue and Dark genes gives rise to two types of Dark Green/blue birds, both visually identical.

Type I Dark Green/blues are bred by mating Mauves to Light Greens and have the two mutant alleles on the same chromatid. Geneticists call this 'coupling' rather than 'Type I'. Because of the linkage, the Dark and Blue alleles from Type I birds tend to be inherited together in their progeny. When mated to Skyblues, Type I birds produce predominantly Light Green/blue and Cobalt progeny, with Dark Green/blue Type II and Skyblues resulting rarely from a cross-over.

Cobalt cock

Violet cock

Type II Dark Green/blues are bred by mating Skyblues to Olives and have the Dark and Blue mutant alleles on opposite chromatids. Geneticists call this 'repulsion' rather than 'Type II'. Because of the separation, the Dark and Blue alleles from Type II birds tend to be inherited separately in their progeny. When mated to Skyblues, Type II birds produce predominantly Dark Green/blue Type II and Skyblue progeny, with Light Green/blue and Cobalts resulting rarely from cross-overs.

Hooded Parrot

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The Hooded Parrot, Psephotus dissimilis is a medium-sized, up to 26cm long, turquoise blue parrot with black head, green wing, brown back and greenish blue-bronze tail feathers edged with white. It has pale grey beak, greyish brown legs and brown eye. The female is an olive green parrot with pale blue below.

An Australian endemic, the Hooded Parrot inhabits to semi-arid areas of northeast Northern Territory. It nests in a termite mound. The female lays two to four white eggs. The diet consists mainly of seeds, berries and vegetables.

Though this species has disappeared from most of its original range, it remains common in protected areas. The Hooded Parrot is evaluated as Least Concern on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Golden-shouldered Parrot

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The Golden-shouldered Parrot (Psephotus chrysopterygius) is a rare bird of southern Cape York Peninsula, in Queensland, Australia. A small attractive parrot related to the more common Red-rumped Parrot, it is considered to be a superspecies with the Hooded Parrot (P. dissimilis)

of the Northern Territory and the apparently extinct Paradise Parrot of Queensland and New South Wales. It is 23–28 cm long and weighs 54–56 g.

Description

The Golden-shouldered Parrot is 23–28 cm long. The adult male is mainly blue and has a characteristic yellow over the shoulder area. It has a black cap and pale yellow frontal band. It has a pinkish lower belly, thighs and undertail-coverts. It has a Grey-brown lower back. Adult female are mainly dull greenish-yellow, and have a broad cream bar on the underside of the wings. Juveniles are similar to the adult female.

Habitat

The Golden-shouldered Parrot lives in open forest, where it feeds on small grass seeds, principally those of firegrass. An important habitat requirement is the provision of terrestrial termite mounds, which the bird uses for nesting in. This has led to the parrot also being known as the Antbed Parrot.and they can fly good

Breeding

The Golden-shouldered Parrot will build a nest in the taller termite mounds (up to 2 m high), and will dig a burrow into them when the mound has been softened by the rains. A long tunnel is dug down into the mound, and capped off by a nesting chamber. The clutch size is between 3–6 eggs, which are incubated for 20 days. The mound regulates the temperature of the nest in the chamber, so that the eggs can be left unattended while the parents feed.

Status

The Golden-shouldered Parrot is listed as endangered (CITES I). The species has a restricted range and suffers from a variety of threats, including predation by feral cats, tourist disturbance, feral pigs, and a change in burning regime in the grasslands upon whose seeds it depends. The wild population is around 3000 birds, with around 1500 kept in captivity in Australia.

Mulga Parrot Information

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he Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius), also known as the Many-coloured Parrot, is endemic in arid scrublands and lightly timbered grasslands in the interior of southern Australia.

Description

The male Mulga Parrot is multicoulored from which the common name Many-coloured Parrot of this species is derived. The female is duller and has a red plumage by its shoulder.

Red-rumped Parrot information

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The Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), also known as the Red-backed Parrot or Grass Parrot, is a common bird of south-eastern Australia, particularly in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Description

Red-rumped Parrots are slim, elegant, moderate-sized parrots approximately 28 cm (11 in) in length. The male's plumage is a bright emerald-green with yellow underparts, a brick-red rump and blue highlights on the wings and upper back. The female's plumage is less vibrant, with pale olive underparts, dull green wings and back and blue-black wingtips. The characteristic red rump is only found in the male.

Behavior

Red-rumped Parrots can be found in pairs or flocks in open country with access to water. They avoid the coast and the wetter, more heavily wooded areas. Clearing of large tracts of forest and the provision of water for stock has probably extended their range. They are often seen in suburban parks and gardens. Their green plumage provides such a good camouflage in ankle length grasses that they can hide quite effectively until the viewer is only 10-20 metres away.

They spend a great deal of time feeding on the ground, and often call to one another with an attractive chee chillip chee chillip.

Breeding

Like many parrots, Red-rumped Parrots nest in tree hollows or similar places, including fenceposts and stumps. They lay 4-6 white eggs, Breeding usually takes place in spring (August to January), however, in the dryer inland areas, breeding can occur at any time of year in response to rainfall.

Aviculture

Red rumps are breed easily in captivity if provided with necessary flight space and a large nesting box. breeders usually use peat and wood shavings as bedding for the nests , birds like to arrange the beds to their likings. As soon as mating has occurred the hen will deposit 4 to 7 eggs which she will brood for about 20 days. Red rump hens will not go out of the nest box whilst on eggs and not even human checking will make them leave their eggs alone. The eggs will hatch around 30 days after and take care to remove the chicks as soon as they are fledged or else the cock may attack his own offspring. One-year-old birds are already able to breed. Incubation from the second egg onwards. The brooding hen is fed by her partner outside the nest.

Lifespan

If properly cared for these birds will live up to 15–20 years.

Bluebonnet

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The Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster) is an Australian parrot, the only member of the genus Northiella. Its habitat includes open woodland, scrub, riverine forest, spinifex, and farmlands in the eastern half of the continent, with a smaller race being found in the Western Australian Nullarbor region.

This species grows up to 27-35cm in length and the sexes are similar in appearance. The are usually seen in pairs or small groups feeding along roads. They breed between July and December producing 4 to 7 white eggs.

It is a common species in the wild though not so in captivity due to its duller colouring and pugnacious behaviour.

The genus name commemorates the Australian ornithologist Alfred John North.

Swift Parrot information

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The Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) breeds in Tasmania and migrates north to south eastern Australia from Griffith-Warialda in Queensland and west to Adelaide in the winter. It is related to the rosellas, with the feeding habits of a lorikeet. It is the only member in the genus Lathamus.

The Swift Parrot is endangered with only about 1000 pairs remaining in the wild, and its population is declining.

Description

The Swift Parrot is about 25 cm (10 in) long and has long pointed wings and long tapering tail feathers. It is mainly green with bluish crown and red on the face above and below the beak. The adult female is slightly duller, and the juvenile has a dark brown iris and a pale orange bill.

Breeding and social habits

The species breeds in Tasmania from September to December. It nests in tree hollows about 6–20 metres from ground level and usually with other breeding pairs. Eggs are white with 3–5 per clutch. Voice is of high pitched tinking chattering, piping pee-pit, pee-pit.

Migration

The Swift Parrot migrates across the Bass Strait between Tasmania and the mainland of Australia. They arrive in Tasmania during September and return to south-eastern Australia during March and April. They can be found as far north as south-eastern Queensland and as far west as Adelaide although recent sightings have been restricted to the Eastern part of the state.

Red-capped Parrot

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The Red-capped Parrot (Purpureicephalus spurius), also called the Pileated Parakeet(leading to easy confusion with the South American Pionopsitta pileata), and King Parrot locally in Western Australia, is an Australian species of broad-tailed parrot related to the Rosellas.

First described by German naturalist Heinrich Kuhl in 1820, from a collection in Albany, Western Australia, the Red-capped Parrot was placed in the monotypic genus Purpureicephalus by Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1854. The generic name is an amalgam of the Latin purpureus "purple", and the Ancient Greek kephalos "head". The specific epithet spurius is the Latin adjective meaning "illegitimate", and refers to the very different adult and immature plumages (hence appearing unrelated). Besides Red-capped Parrot, vernacular names include Pileated Parrot, Western King Parrot, Purple-crowned Parrot, Grey Parrot or Hookbill.

Measuring 34-38 cm (14-15 in) in length and weighing 105-125 g, the adult Red-capped Parrot is a distinctive and easily recognised medium-sized parrot. The adult male has a crimson crown, grey-brown lores, and green-yellow cheeks and a narrow long upper mandible. The upperparts are dark green, the rump yellow-green, the tail green with dark blue tip. The underparts are purplish-blue and the flanks green and red. The female is similar but duller overall, and the juvenile has a dark green crown, reddish frontal band, and red-brown underparts.

The species occurs from the Moore River southwards in southwestern Australia. Its natural habitat is Marree (Corymbia calophylla), but has adpated to farmland, orchards and suburban landscapes in Perth.

Marree seeds are the preferred diet, but birds also extract seeds from Karri (Eucalyptus marginata), woody pear (Xylomelum), Grevillea, Hakea, and She-oak (Casuarina), as well as insects such as psyllids, and even orchard fruit such as apples and pears.

The breeding season is August to December, the nest is a tree hollow, and a clutch of five white eggs is laid.