Scarlet-chested Parrot
Neophema splendida
Brightly colored nomadic desert parrot with a relatively short tail, mostly found in the Great Victoria Desert, with very occasional records outside this area. Feeds on the ground in arid bushland. Male has intense blue head, rich scarlet chest, green back, blue wings, and yellow belly. Female lacks scarlet chest and has much more subdued coloration, with pale bluish face and wings; similar juvenile has pale bill. In flight, upperparts show dark blue outer wing contrasting with pale blue inner wing and green back.
Identification
Measuring 19–21 cm (8 in) in length, this small vibrant and brightly coloured parrot is sexually dimorphic. The male has a scarlet chest, a cobalt blue face, and bright green upperparts. The lower breast and underparts are yellow, and the wing coverts are pale blue. The tail is green, the eyes are brown and the bill is blackish, and legs are brown-grey. The female likewise has a blue face, although the coloration is less extensive, green upperparts and green breast, with yellow underparts. Immature birds are duller versions of their respective adult forms. Males begin to get red plumage on their chest from around two or three months of age, though do not complete their red chest until fifteen to eighteen months old.<p>The female resembles the female turquoise parrot (N. pulchella) of eastern Australia, but can be distinguished by the blue lores and paler blue wing patch.<p>The call is a soft twittering, quieter than other members of the genus Neophema.
Taxonomy
The scarlet-chested parrot was originally named by the renowned ornithologist and artist John Gould in 1841 as Euphema splendida. Its specific name splendida is the Latin adjective "splendid". No subspecies are recognised.<p>Italian ornithologist Tommaso Salvadori erected the new genus Neophema in 1891, placing the scarlet-chested parrot within it and giving it its current scientific name. It is one of six species of grass parrot in the genus Neophema, and is most closely related to the turquoise parrot. The two are an allopatric species pair, and are the only two species in the genus to exhibit marked sexual dimorphism.<p>Common names include scarlet-chested parrot, orange-throated parrot, splendid parrot, scarlet-breasted parrot, and scarlet-chested parakeet in aviculture.
- Scientific name
- Neophema splendida
- Authority
- (Gould, 1841)
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittacidae
- Genus
- Neophema
Range and habitat
The scarlet-chested parrot is sparsely scattered across the dryer southern parts of the Australian continent, from Pingelly, Corrigin and Laverton in Western Australia east across South Australia and into the southern Northern Territory and into far western New South Wales. It has been classified as vulnerable in New South Wales, the dangers highlighted include the harvesting of trees that are potential and actual nesting sites, as larger trees are necessary for suitable hollows, possible trapping for the pet trade, and grazing by stock and feral animals. They inhabit dry Eucalyptus and Acacia scrubland and grassland, including Atriplex and Triodia. True estimates of rarity or abundance are difficult to determine; although the bird is brightly coloured, it is secretive and easily overlooked.
- Migration
- Nomadic movement
Conservation
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Pallid Harrier
Circus macrourus
Males are ghostly gray above with black wingtip wedges. Females are more difficult to separate from other harriers; pay attention to the underwings with their barred primaries and dark secondaries. Juveniles are rufous and similar to Montagu’s, but appear dark rather than pale faced. In flight, a bit bulkier than Montagu’s but much more buoyant than Hen Harrier. Found in steppes, wet grassland, agricultural areas and other open spaces. Sometimes forms flocks outside of the breeding season, occasionally mixing with other harrier species.
Toco Toucan
Ramphastos toco
Large and impressive toucan with a huge orange bill with a black tip and base. The body is mostly black with a white throat, and rump, and a red vent. Dark eyes are surrounded by orange and blue skin. Found in savanna and open woodland, avoiding humid forests. Makes a raucous far carrying croaking “wreh” call, and flies with noisy wingbeats.
Andean Negrito
Lessonia oreas
Tiny little terrestrial flycatcher, fairly common locally in open habitats of the high Andes, especially bogs and lakeshores. Feeds mainly by hopping on the ground, but perches readily on posts and fences. No similar species in range: male is black with a bright rusty back; female is dark sooty brown with a dull rusty back. In flight both sexes show whitish flash in wings (absent in Austral Negrito, which occurs in lowlands to the south).
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