Australian King Parrot
Alisterus scapularis· 长尾鹦鹉科(5 photos)
Australian King Parrot
41-44 cm. Male: brilliant scarlet head/body; dark green wings with pale green band. Bill red above, black below; eye yellow. Female: upperparts and upperbreast dark green (some have pale wing band); lower breast scarlet; bill red-grey; eye yellow. Immature: like female; eye brown; young males become patchy red. Parties, small flocks, mostly of green birds: feeds quietly in foliage on fruit, palm shoots, blossoms, mistletoes; on ground. Raids fruit in orchards; bananas, corn, sorghum, potatoes, acorns. Tame in gardens, farmyards, resorts. Flight strong, easy, erratic with deep pumping wingbeats.
- Similar Species
- Crimson Rosella.
- Voice
- brassy 'chack! chack!'; male, drawn-out, ringing 'sweee'; alarm screeches.
- Habitat
- rainforests, palm forests, eucalypt forests, dense gullies, clearings, coastal woodlands; regrowth with berry-bearing shrubs; crops, potato-fields, orchards, parks, gardens.
- Breeding
- Sept.-Jan.
- Nest
- in tree-hollow, with high entrance.
- Eggs
- 3-5; white, rounded.
- Range & Status
- coastal e. Aust., from c. Cooktown (Q) to Otway Ras. (Vic.), inland to c. Carnarvon NP (Q), Warrumbungle NP (NSW), Wodonga-Daylesford (Vic.). Common to uncommon; disperses to lowlands in autumn-winter. Sedentary; dispersive.
- Distribution key to races
- 1. Alisterus scapularis scapularis 2. Alisterus scapularis minor
