Overview on this species provided by Dr. Rob Marshall (with additional information added by Avianweb)
The lavishly colored, long-tailed King Parrots originate from the East coast of Australia, New Guinea, and various Indonesian islands
The male has a fiery appearance, with scarlet colorations extending from the back of the neck, over the head and down to the underside of the tail. The wings and back are a dark bottle green with a light green patch across the shoulders.
- Avianweb Note: the light green patch is missing in the Amboina King Parrot, and is larger as featured on this page on the Green-winged King Parrot – please refer to image on top.
King Parrots as Pets or Aviary Birds:
Hand reared male King Parrots make good pets and are colorful and entertaining birds that exhibit bright and cheerful behaviour.
- Talking Ability (compared to other parrot species)
King Parrots are generally a hardy species, although they can become susceptible to stress when moved or exposed to new surroundings. Special care to provide the correct housing and nutrition must be taken to ensure this beautiful bird does not become susceptible to illness. In particular, King Parrots are highly susceptible to Bacillus infection that is toxic and invariably fatal, irrespective of veterinary attention.
Aviary notes
The King Parrot is a very attractive and acrobatic aviary bird. They require a four to five metre long by one to two metres wide aviary to keep them comfortable and happy. Breeding King Parrots can be a challenge that brings rich rewards.
The best breeding results are achieved when the birds have an adequate sized aviary and are provided with all of the vitamins and minerals necessary for perfect health.
In the wild, the King Parrot nests deep within tree hollows and therefore require a nest box at least 120cm deep. It is advantageous to provide numerous eucalypt branches for perches to simulate the dense forest environment enjoyed by the King Parrot
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| Photo and Below Chart by: Dr. Rob Marshall |
| King Parrot Alisterus scapularis |
| Size: 45cm in length |
| Pet Status: Cock – Excellent |
| Talking Ability: Cock – Moderate |
| Noise Level: Moderate |
| Lifespan: 25 years |
| Breeding Ability: Moderate |
| Courtship Display: Hen will solicit feeding from mate by sitting low on perch with bobbing motion. Cock will hold erect his head feathers and hold body plumage tight. |
| Number of Eggs: 2-5 eggs |
| Incubation: 21 days |
| Compatibility with other species: Good |
| Feeding: Seed and Fruit eaters |
| Sexing: Male has striking red colored head and upper beak is orange. Female has dull green head and all black beak. Surgical or DNA sexing is required prior to sexual maturity (3 years). |
Taxonomy:
Class:Aves …Order:Psittaciformes …Family:Psittacidae… Subfamily:Psittacinae …Genus:Scientific: Alisterus … English: King Parrots … Dutch: Koningsparkieten … German: Königssittiche … French: Perruche royales …CITES II:Endangered Species
Sub-species:
Amboina King Parrots aka Moluccan King-Parrot, Amboina Green-winged King Parrot
Australian King Parrots aka Eastern King, Queensland King, King Lory, Scarlet Parrot, Green Parrot
Moszkowski Green-winged King Parrots
Salvadori’s Green-winged King Parrots
Smaller Australian King Parrots:
Species: Scientific: Alisterus scapularis minor … English: Smaller Australian King Parrot … Dutch: Kleine Australische Koningsparkiet … German: Kleiner Australischer Königssittich … French: Petit platycerque à croupion bleu … CITES II – Endangered Species
Distribution: North-eastern Queensland, Australia
