Superb Parrot Enjoys Shower (Enclosure) by TheBootesArtVoid on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

Species Name: Superb Parrot

Species Latin Name: Polytelis swainsonii

Also known as: Barraband's Parrot, Barraband's Parakeet, or Green Leek Parrot

Native To: Australia

Located in: Located inland in northern Victoria and eastern New South Wales

Habitats: Located near most rivers, mallee, stubbles, pastures, and gardens that contain river red gums, black box, yellow box, and river oak.

Size (length): 360 – 420 mm (14.2 – 16.5 inches)

Wing span: 173 – 192 mm (6.8 – 7.6 inches)

Bill size: 14.5 – 17.0 mm (0.6 – 0.7 inches)

Weight: 135 - 164 grams (4.8 – 5.8 ounces)

Diet:

These birds eat the seeds of grasses as well as other plants, fruits, berries, nectar, flowers and some insects. These birds will usually feed on the ground, sometimes they will forage in the foliage of trees. These birds are known to feed on crops as a food supply.

Lifestyle: Terrestrial, Migrating

Voice:

These birds have a loud rolling and grating 'krak, krrak' or 'currack currack' call. They make a soft wittering sound when feeding. All birds of this species have a distinctive throaty quality.

Mating Behaviour:

Females will incubate the eggs alone and is fed by the male. Males will form small flocks of up to 30 birds or more during this time to find food before returning to their own mate to feed them. Both parents will feed the young when they hatch. Mating pairs may form loose mating colonies that can number up to 6 mating pairs.

Reproductive Season: September - December

Nest Description:

Nest will be in the hollow of either a river red gum, yellow box, or other eucalypts near water and their food source. Eggs will be laid in wood dust at the bottom of the hollow.

Eggs Per Clutch: 4 – 6 eggs

Egg Description: white and rounded

Egg Size: 28 x 24 mm (1.1 x 1.0 inches)

Incubation Period: 20 days

Independent Age: A few weeks

Scientific Classification:

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Psittaciformes

Family: Psittaculidae

Genus: Polytelis

Description:

Superb Parrots will have bright green feathers across the majority of their bodies. They have bright reddish orange beaks, orange eyes, short dark grey legs and feet. The tips of their wings and the ends of their tail feathers will appear more of a bluish green colour in comparison to the rest of their bodies.

Females will have green heads where as the males will have a yellow face with a red strip along their front and side of their neck. Females will have a patch of feathers along their upper chest that will be slightly reddish in hue.

Population Trend: Increasing

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Potential threats and conservation:

For some time these birds were listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of threatened Species, it was downlisted to Least Concern in 2012. During February to June 2005 timber logging in the Barmah state forest destroyed 60% of nesting sites of the species which resulted with fewer than 150 breeding in Victoria. In december 2008 dozens of reports were made of these birds being hit by cars, NPWS wildlife officials speculate the reason this occurred is likely due to these birds gorging on spilled grain on roads so much they were unable to fly. Despite these issues the numbers of these birds continue to increase, there are still concerns regards competition for nesting sites with Common Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), Common Mynas ( Acridotheres tristis ), and honey bees. Some sources indicate that the species is still considered as vulnerable in the states of New South Wales and Vulnerable in Victoria.

Further Reading (general information):

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superb_p…

Atlas of Living Australia: bie.ala.org.au/species/https:/…

Birdlife Australia: birdlife.org.au/bird-profiles/…

Australian Museum: australian.museum/learn/animal…

Backyard Buddies: backyardbuddies.org.au/backyar…

Ebird: ebird.org/species/suppar1

Animalia: animalia.bio/superb-parrot

Book References:

The Australian Bird Guide Revised Edition published by CSIRO Publishing

Birds of Australia published by DK Nature Guide

The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia published by Harper Collins

The Slater Field Guide To Australian Birds Second Edition by Peter Slater, Pat Slater, and Raoul Slater