Orange-bellied Parrot
Neophema chrysogaster· 长尾鹦鹉科(2 photos)
Orange-bellied Parrot
20-22 cm. Male: robust, rich green grass parrot; orange belly patch not always visible. Mid-blue forehead band stops at eye; 'mask' yellow-green; bright blue around bend of wing; tail dark blue-green, outer feathers yellow. Female: duller, with less blue; green wash on breast; usually no orange on belly. Immature: duller; pale wingbar. Parties, small flocks: feeds on ground, perches on low shrubs; sometimes with Blue-winged Parrots. Wary; dashes skywards, calling; looks dark, sturdy; travels far, flies high.
- Similar Species
- Blue-winged, Elegant Parrots.
- Voice
- contact call, single 'dzit' every 2-3 sec.; when flushed, distinctive buzzing, metallic, explosive 'ziziziziziziziziz'.
- Habitat
- in sw. Tas., button-grass; sedges on wet peat plains; breeds in eucalypt woodland on margins of coastal plains. On mainland dispersal favours small islands, peninsulas in coastal areas; with saltmarsh plants; coastal pastures, golf courses; crops of millet and sunflowers; dunes, beaches.
- Breeding
- Nov.-Dec.
- Nest
- in tree hollow.
- Eggs
- 4-6; white, rounded.
- Range & Status
- breeds sw. Tas.: migrates n. in March-April via King I. to coastal s. Vic.-se. SA; e. to Jack Smiths Lake (Vic.), w. to Yorke Pen. (SA), casual n. to Sydney (NSW). Returns Tas. mid-Oct. Rare, local: total wild population c. 50 birds. Critically endangered.
