King Parrots

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.

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.

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

King Parrot
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

King Parrots in their natural range of Australia
King Parrots

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

Buru Island King Parrots

Green-winged King Parrots

Halmahera King Parrots

Moluccan King-Parrot

Moszkowski Green-winged King Parrots

Peleng Island King Parrots

Salawati 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

Sula Island King Parrots

Most Common King Parrot Species:

Photo of author

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