From Opus

Purpureicephalus spurius

Photo by Peter Ericsson

[edit] Identification

Length: 36cm

Red forehead, crown and nape, yellow cheeks and throat, purplish-blue chest, light-green back, bright yellow. The rump and upper tail covets are also bright yellow, with red on the flanks, vent and under-tail. The long tail is bight green edged with blue and tipped white. Its legs and eyes are brown.

The female is more dull and has more green on the flanks and under-tail. In addition her red-cap may be tinged with green and her chest colour less vivid.

[edit] Distribution

South-Western Western Australia.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.

[edit] Habitat

Cultivated farmlands, parklands, orchards and alongside roads and watercourses.

[edit] Behaviour

4-5 eggs are laid and incubated by the female for 20 days. The male feeds her during incubation and for a further 2 weeks. After this he feeds the chicks directly in the nest until they fledge at 5 weeks.

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on the ABID