Elegant Parrot
Neophema elegans
Handsome small parrot of southern Australia. Yellowish-green overall, with yellow underbelly, green back, green head, and thin dark blue patch on folded wing. Face yellow between eye and bill, with a thin blue line between the eyes. Feeds on the ground in open areas, including salt marshes. Compare Rock Parrot (duller green, lacks the yellow on face) and Blue-winged Parrot (more olive, small yellow patch behind eye). Calls include a very thin insect-like "zit" and a raspy trill.
Identification
The elegant parrot is 23 cm (9.1 in) long and predominantly golden olive in colour with a dark blue frontal band line above with lighter blue, while abdomen and vent are yellow. The female is a duller shade of olive all over and has a narrower blue frontal band. The wings are predominantly olive with outer flight feathers dark 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.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Neophema elegans
- Authority
- (Gould, 1837)
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittaculidae
- Genus
- Neophema
Range and habitat
The elegant parrot is found in two disjunct regions, one across southwestern Australia from Moora in the north to Merredin and Esperance in the east, and in southeastern South Australia (including Kangaroo Island) north to Marree, and east into western Victoria.
- Migration
- Nomadic movement
Conservation
- Population trend
- rising
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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