Red-rumped parrot
Red-rumped parrot | |
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Male in New South Wales, Australia | |
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Female in New South Wales, Australia | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Psittaciformes |
Family: | Psittaculidae |
Tribe: | Platycercini |
Genus: | Psephotus Gould, 1845 |
Species: | P. haematonotus
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Binomial name | |
Psephotus haematonotus (Gould, 1838)
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Subspecies | |
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The red-rumped parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), also known as the red-backed parrot or grass parrot, is a medium-sized broad-tailed parrot endemic to open woodland in south-eastern Australia, particularly in the Murray-Darling Basin. It is a highly sexually dimorphic species, with the adult female mainly being a greyish olive-green with lighter underparts and the adult male predominantly being a brightly coloured green and gold with various shades of blue on the wings. Only the adult male possesses the red rump that gives the species its common name.
It is commonly found in open, grassy habitats, both in natural open woodland and in man-made environments such as paddocks, fields, parks and gardens. It has adapted well to rural and suburban areas and is commonly observed foraging on the ground for a variety of seeds.
Taxonomy and naming
[edit]The red-rumped parrot was described by John Gould in 1838[a] as Platycercus haematonotus from a specimen collected in New South Wales. He felt it was intermediate between the genera Platycercus and the now obsolete genus Nanodes, placing it in the former. He gave it its species name on account of its red rump.[2] Gould later reclassified it as Psephotus haematonotus in his book, Birds of Australia, Volume 5.[3][4]
It is the type species for the genus Psephotus. It was long presumed to be closely related to the mulga parrot, however analysis of multiple genetic material shows it to be an early offshoot of a group containing the genera Platycercus and Barnardius.[5][6] Hence all other species in the genus have been moved to the new genus Psephotellus, leaving the red-rumped parrot as the sole member in the now monotypic genus.
The species name derives from Ancient Greek psephotos, meaning "inlaid with pebbles". The specific epithet haematonotus stems from Greek haimato, meaning "blood" and noton meaning "back".[3][7]
Two subspecies are recognised:[8][9][10]
- P. h. haematonotus (Gould, 1838) - the nominate subspecies. Found in south-eastern Australia throughout much of New South Wales and Victoria.
- P. h. caeruleus (Condon, 1941) - found further inland in north-eastern South Australia and south-western Queensland.
The IOC World Bird List has designated red-rumped parrot as its official common name. It is also commonly known as the red-backed parrot or grass parrot.[9]
Description
[edit]Red-rumped parrots are slim, moderate-sized parrots approximately 28 cm (11 in) in length. The male's plumage is a bright emerald-green with yellow underparts, a brick-red rump and blue highlights on the wings and upper back. The female's plumage is less vibrant, with pale olive underparts, dull green wings and back and blue-black wingtips. The characteristic red rump is only found in the male.[10][11]
Behaviour
[edit]![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Psephotus_haematonotus_-Crestwood_Reserve%2C_Baulkham_Hills%2C_Sydney%2C_Australia_-pair-8.jpg/220px-Psephotus_haematonotus_-Crestwood_Reserve%2C_Baulkham_Hills%2C_Sydney%2C_Australia_-pair-8.jpg)
Red-rumped parrots can be found in pairs or flocks in open country with access to water. They avoid the coast and the wetter, more heavily wooded areas. Clearing of large tracts of forest and the provision of water for stock has probably extended their range. They are often seen in suburban parks and gardens.[11] Their green plumage provides such a good camouflage in ankle length grasses that they can hide quite effectively until the viewer is only 10–20 metres away.
They spend a great deal of time feeding on the ground, and often call to one another with an attractive chee chillip chee chillip.
Breeding
[edit]Like many parrots, red-rumped parrots nest in tree hollows or similar places, including fenceposts and stumps. They lay 4-6 white eggs around 2 or so centimetres. Breeding usually takes place in spring (September-November); however, in the dryer inland areas, breeding can occur at any time of year in response to rainfall. They will begin to breed from between 12-18 months of age.[11][12]
Red-rumped parrots are monogamous and pair for life. Both sexes defend the nest hollow. Incubation takes around 20-25 days and is done by the female alone. The father brings food to the mother while she incubates the eggs and feeds the chicks during their first few weeks of life, afterwards, feeding duties are undertaken by both parents. The fledging period begins when the chicks are 4-5 weeks of age.[12][13][14]
Courtship involves a display where the male stretches out his body, fans out and wags his tail, bobs his head up and down and thrusts out his shoulders, exposing the bright yellow and blue wing patches. The display is followed by the male mutually feeding the female through regurgitation. Mutual preening may be observed in bonded pairs, although it is uncommon among broad-tailed parrots.[14][15]
Aviculture
[edit]![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Psephotus_haematonotus_-Eastern_Creek%2C_New_South_Wales%2C_Australia_-pair-8.jpg/220px-Psephotus_haematonotus_-Eastern_Creek%2C_New_South_Wales%2C_Australia_-pair-8.jpg)
Red-rumped parrots are becoming increasingly popular in aviculture due to their large range of attractive colour mutations and ease of care. They are incredibly hardy and can be kept in a variety of weather and climatic conditions. Compatible pairs breed readily in captivity if provided with necessary flight space and a large nesting box. They may raise up to four broods in a single season. Care must be taken to ensure parent birds do not display any signs of aggression towards their young once they have fledged.[12]
Housing
[edit]Red-rumped parrots do well in aviaries and large cages. Only one male-female pair of red-rumps should be housed per enclosure, as these birds are known to be aggressive towards other birds, especially their own kind. Outdoor aviaries should provide ample shade and weatherproofing, as well as direct sunlight.[12]
Mutations
[edit]Red-rumped parrots have been bred in a wide variety of colour mutations, with an estimated total of over 22 mutations available at present. These include cinnamon, lutino, pied, blue, albino and opaline.[12]
Lifespan
[edit]In captivity, their average lifespan is 15 years, however, with proper feeding and care, these birds may live up to 32 years.[10]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Although Gould presented the new species in 26 September 1837, the account was not published until 15 February 1838
References
[edit]- ^ BirdLife International. (2016). "Psephotus haematonotus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22685139A93060184. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22685139A93060184.en. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ Gould, John (1837). "Mr. Gould exhibited from his Australian collection of Birds two species of the genus Platycercus, which he considered new". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 5: 88–89. [Gould's species description appears in the meeting notes without a title.]
- ^ a b Sindel, Stan; Gill, James (1996). Australian Grass Parrakeets (The Psephotus and Northiella genera). pp. 66–97. ISBN 0958772754.
- ^ "The Birds of Australia: in seven volumes 05". Australian Museum. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Schweizer, Manuel; Güntert, Marcel; Hertwig, Stefan T. (2012). "Out of the Bassian province: historical biogeography of the Australasian platycercine parrots" (PDF). Zoologica Scripta. 42 (1): 13–27. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.2012.00561.x. S2CID 53957317.
- ^ Leo Joseph; Alicia Toon; Erin E. Schirtzinger; Timothy F. Wright (2011). "Molecular systematics of two enigmatic genera Psittacella and Pezoporus illuminate the ecological radiation of Australo-Papuan parrots (Aves: Psittaciformes)" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 59 (3): 675–684. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2011.03.017. PMID 21453777.
- ^ Slater, Peter; Slater, Pat; Slater, Raoul (2009). The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds (2nd ed.). p. 230. ISBN 0727020854.
- ^ Australia, Atlas of Living. "Species: Psephotus haematonotus (Red-Rumped Parrot)". bie.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
- ^ a b "Parrots, cockatoos – IOC World Bird List". www.worldbirdnames.org. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
- ^ a b c "Psephotus haematonotus – Red-rumped Parrot – Encyclopedia of Parrots". Retrieved 2024-09-02.
- ^ a b c Collar, Nigel; Kirwan, Guy M.; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2020). "Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.rerpar1.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN 2771-3105.
- ^ a b c d e Martin, Toby (1997). A Guide to Neophema and Psephotus Grass Parrots (Revised Edition). Australian Birdkeeper Publications. ISBN 9780958710244.
- ^ "Nest box for the Red-rumped Parrot" (PDF). birdsinbackyards.net. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ a b Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds. Readers Digest (Australia) Pty Ltd. 1976. p. 312. ISBN 0949819999.
- ^ Silva, Tony (1991). Psittaculture: Breeding, Rearing and Management of Parrots. pp. 173–179. ISBN 1895270022.
External links
[edit]Media related to Psephotus haematonotus at Wikimedia Commons