Australian King Parrots

Description:

King parrots average between 16 and 18 inches in length from the beak to the tips of the tail feathers. They are a sexually dimorphic species. Male Australian King Parrots have bright red plumage on their heads and chests, vivid green feathers on their backs and tails, blue feathers underneath their wings and a flash of cyan on the top of the wings. Females of the species have green feathers on their heads, backs, and chests, red on their bellies, and a patch of blue on their rumps. Both sexes have dark gray skin on their feet and legs.

Habitat:

East coast of Australia.

Notes:

This pair has been visiting us every few of months for almost a decade. When they turn up the male comes close to the house and calls with a long, rising, questioning whistle. He repeats until we show ourselves. He then flies towards us and has even landed on our arm or shoulder on a few occasions. If we provide some seed he feeds for a minute or two then makes a different call to his mate. She appears usually from a safer sheltered tree and finishes off whatever he didn't. They might come for one or two days and then we won't see them for another few months. Considering the brief contact we have with them they seem to show incredible boldness. It is also obvious they stay as a pair for a long time if not for life.