Princess parrot

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Princess parrot

Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Genus: Polytelis
Species:
P. alexandrae
Binomial name
Polytelis alexandrae
Gould, 1863

The colourful princess parrot (Polytelis alexandrae) is an Australian bird of the

Edward VII and eventually became Queen of the United Kingdom
. Other names for the species include: Queen Alexandra parrot (or parakeet), Alexandra's parakeet, Princess of Wales parakeet, rose-throated parakeet, and spinifex parrot. Their plumage is mostly green with a pink throat, bluish crown and rump, and bright green shoulders.

Description

Bloedel Conservatory
, Vancouver, Canada
A curious male Princess parrot.
A male Princess parrot.

The princess parrot is a medium-sized parrot, 34 to 46 cm long and weighing between 110 and 120 g. The plumage is mostly green with a pink throat, bluish crown, and bright green shoulders. The rump is blue and the tail is long and narrow. The males have longer tail feathers and brighter coloring than females. The male also has a coral-red beak, while the female's is duller and has a greyish crown. Another difference is that the male has an orange iris, while the female's is much browner. In addition, the male of the species has a longer, projecting extension from the end of the 3rd primary (flight) feather on each side. This projection is called a 'spatula' or 'spatule' and appears in mature male birds.[citation needed]

Behaviour

This species is

spinifex, eucalypts, acacias, etc. They are unusual among parrots in engaging in mobbing
behaviour against predators. They feed on the seeds of grasses and shrubs.

Breeding

Four to six white eggs are laid which are incubated for 19 days. The chicks leave the nest about 35 days after hatching. These parakeets are truly

opportunistic breeders, with pairs choosing to nest when food is plentiful.[2] They nest in a hollow in an eucalypt or desert oak
.

Blue winged mutant Princess Parrot

Aviculture

Flying High Bird Habitat
, Australia

The princess parrot can make loud calls.

aviculturists and pet owners because of their looks and personality. Their diet consists of reasonable sized seeds and grasses that have seeds. They can be constipated if given bread or seeds that are small or become wet, they can become ill if seed bowls are contaminated by rats or mice so are best fed on an inverted ceramic pot with the bowl on top not wider than the top as they will dislodge the feed bowl.[citation needed
]

There are three common color mutations of this parakeet. These colours are Lutino, Blue, and Albino (combination of Blue and Lutino). The natural, or 'normal' color is green. There are two types of blue, one blue winged and the second is bright blue wings and bright blue head.

A male princess parrot perched on a branch.

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T22685081A213099157.en
    . Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  2. ^
    ISBN 1-84309-164-X
    .
  3. ^ "Princess Of Wales Parakeet Birds". www.birdchannel.com. Retrieved 2015-10-19.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polytelis alexandrae.
Wikispecies has information related to Polytelis alexandrae.
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