Family Parrots (Psittacidae)
Least Concern
Blue-winged Parrot (Neophema chrysostoma)
Taxonomy
French: Perruche à bouche d’or German: Feinsittich Spanish: Periquito crisóstomo
Taxonomy:
Psittacus chrysostomus
Kuhl
, 1820,New Holland; error = Tasmania
.Distribution:
SE Australia, where breeds only in S Victoria and SE South Australia and in Tasmania; after breeding, moves N to E South Australia, inland New South Wales and SW Queensland.
Descriptive notes
20–21 cm; 44–61 g. Area between eye and bill, and postocular mark, yellow; dark blue line across forehead to front of eye, edged above pale blue; crown bronze... read more
Voice
Not very vocal. In flight a repeated high-pitched tinkling “tsleet..tsleet..”. Also an insect-like... read more
Habitat
Eucalypt woodland in breeding season, visiting pastures, clearings and orchards; similar habitat in... read more
Food and feeding
Seeds of grasses, notably Danthonia semibarbata, D. semiannularis, Aira caryophylla and Drosera peltata... read more
Breeding
Oct–Jan. Nest in hole in tree, often a high eucalypt, but also in a stump, fence post or fallen log; sometimes colonial. Eggs 4... read more
Movements
Migratory, although pattern unclear. Most birds in Tasmania move to mainland in winter, and N parts... read more
Status and conservation
Not globally threatened. CITES II. Common, especially in Tasmania, SW Victoria and SE South Australia.
Described forms cyanopterus (from S Victoria) and tasmanica (N Tasmania) are considered unacceptable. Monotypic.