Naretha Blue-Bonnet Parrots

Psephotus Information … Photos of the Members of the Psephotus Family for Identification

Distribution / Range

Naretha Blue-Bonnet Parrots (Northiella narethae) are endemic to Southern Australia . This is an endangered species (CITES II).

Blue Bonnet parrots are sporadically dispersed, socially gathering in groups of up to 30 birds.

Breeding / Mating

They permanently mate. Their courtship ritual is quite entertaining and entails fanning and shaking of their tail feathers, raising their crown feathers and a lot of head bobbing.

They nest in low-lying tree openings lined with wood substances. The average nest consists of 4 to 7 eggs, which are incubated by the female for about 22 days.

The male assists in rearing the young and feeds the female on the nest.

Diet / Feeding

The main diet consists of native grasses and herbaceous plants, as well as flower and fruit nectar.

Description:

As Blue-bonnet Parrots (haematogaster), but the plumage is generally much paler brown-grey; forehead, lores (the regions between the eyes and bill on the side of a bird’s head) and area over eye greenish-blue; no red to abdomen and thighs; under tail-coverts red; bend of wing and shoulder feathers greenish-blue to pale mauve-blue; outer lesser wing-coverts orange-red; rump, upper tail-coverts, inner lesser and median wing-coverts pale olive-yellow; upperside of middle tail-feathers olive with blue tips; on average slightly smaller.

Female as male, but with slightly duller plumage; facial area duller blue; head and bill generally smaller.

Immatures as adults, but with slightly duller plumage; adult plumage attained by 12 months

These parrots average 28 cm / 11 inches in length.

Taxonomy:

Genus: Scientific: Northiella … English: Blue-Bonnets … Dutch: Blauwkapparkieten … German: Rotsteißsittichen … French: Perruche à queue rouge

Species: Scientific: Northiella haematogaster narethae aka Psephotus haematogaster narethae … English: Naretha Blue-Bonnet … Dutch: Naretha Blue-Bonnet Parkiet … German: Narethasittich … French: Perruche à anus rouge de Naretha

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Gaurav Dhir

Gaurav is an animal enthusiast. He lives in beautiful Ontario with his energetic family. As a part of his work at beautyofbirds.com, he has been working with ace parrot trainer, Cassie Malina to understand bird behavior and learn more about how he can train his feathered companions.

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