Naretha Bluebonnet
Northiella narethae
Brown parrot with yellow belly, red undertail, and blue face, found in dry woodland habitats of the extreme southeastern part of Western Australia, on the western fringe of the Nullarbor Plain. In flight, the blue wings and red shoulders contrast with pale brown back; lacks the bright green back of other desert parrots. Identify from the very similar Greater Bluebonnet by a completely yellow belly and also by range.
Identification
The Naretha bluebonnet is smaller than the eastern bluebonnet, at around 28 cm (11 in) in length. The legs and feet are dark grey, and the iris is dark brown. The adult male has a two tonal facial pattern with a lighter green-blue forehead, lores and the area above the eye contrasting with the rest of the face which is a purplish-blue. The light grey-brown head, foreneck and breast are marked with pale steaks and diffuse spots. The back is olive-grey. The belly, vent and thighs are a uniform yellow with the red being restricted to the undertail-coverts area. The lesser wing coverts are blue and outer median wing coverts red, while the inner median and greater wing coverts, and inner secondaries a yellow-olive colour. The central tail feathers are tinged with pale blue. The adult female has a duller blue on the forehead, and reduced colour on wings and tail, and with no tint of orange on the belly. It is smaller overall at around 26 cm (10 in) in length.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Northiella narethae
- Authority
- (White, HL, 1921)
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Family
- Psittaculidae
- Genus
- Northiella
Range and habitat
The Naretha bluebonnet is reported to have been common in the arid Nullarbor region, and became rarer during the 20th century. The localised range of individuals is thought to make the species highly endemic to an area on the border of Western and South Australia.Narethas are located in what is termed the Myall woodlands - this is a woodland dominated by acacia species.The Naretha homelands extend over a large and isolated range. They are often observed more readily in areas where water has become an altered focal point - notably water troughs for stock.
Photos
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