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Bourke's Parrot - BirdForum Opus

Photo by Hans&Judy Beste
South West Queensland, June 2017
Neopsephotus bourkii

Identification

19cm (7½ in)

  • Plumage mainly brown
  • Pink abdomen
  • Pinkish breast
  • Blue rump
  • Dark brown legs
  • Yellowish-brown bill

Males: blue forehead
Females: white brows and white wing stripe

Distribution

Female
Photo by Hans&Judy Beste
SW Queensland, June 2017

Mostly interior southern Australia, only reaching the coast in Western Australia. Irregular, patchy and nomadic occurrence.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1].

Some authorities place it in genus Neophema.

Habitat

Locally in dry acacia scrub, particularly where there is much mulga growing, as well as open eucalypt woodland.

Behaviour

Visits waterholes at dawn, dusk, or in complete darkness.

Breeding

Their make their nest in a tree hollow between 1-3 m up. The clutch consists of 3 to 6 eggs which are incubated by the female for about 18 days; the young fledge at about 4 weeks. The male feeds the female while she is incubating and caring for the young.

Diet

Female
Photo © by Mike Bouette
Wondinong Station, Western Australia, 30 August 2020

Their diet consists mostly of grass and herb seeds. Also grass shoots and acacia seeds.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved June 2017)
  3. BirdForum Member observations

Recommended Citation

External Links

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