Princess Parrot
The rare princess parrot lives a monadic life. It travels through sparely populated areas of western Australia in search of the flowering acacia it likes to eat.. Found in the dry areas of western Australia, the princess parrot is an especially beautiful bird. It is much in demand for aviaries because it usually thrives and breeds well in captivity.
Habitat: The Princess parrots usually live near acacia or eucalyptus trees in dry scrubland, often far from water. These birds are nomadic, following the flowering of the acacia. they are normally found in pairs or small groups..
Breeding The courtship display of the male princess parrot, like that of other Polytelis species, is characterized by a marked dilation of the eye pupils. The bird also bows and bobs its head and erects a few frontal feathers to form a tiny crest. During the breeding season, male princess parrots often become aggressive toward their mates. The females tend to be clumsy, and they frequently break eggs apron entering or leaving the nest.
Princess parrots normally nest between September and December. They lay four to six eggs in holes on the forks of large eucalyptus or acasuarina trees. Small groups often form nesting colonies in the same tree. The nesting birds make no attempt at nest building. Instead, they lay their eggs directly on the dust of the decaying wood. Incubation takes approximately three weeks, and only the female sits on the eggs.
Food & Feeding: Princess parrots feed mainly on grass seeds and ground hugging herbaceous plants. They also eats fruit, blossoms, berries, and occasionally insects. They favor the fruit and blossoms of the acacia tree. Specimens collected for museums have been found to have eaten acacia seeds. The parrots seem to change their location to coincide with the seasonal plant growth, so they are assured of food year round. The princess parrot is a dry country bird and seldom feeds in wet areas..
Princess Parrot & Man: Acclaimed as one of the most beautiful Australian parrots, the princess parrot is a well established aviary species and breeds well in captivity. It does best in large aviaries, where it is less likely to become too tame. Hybrids have been created by breeding with other Polytelis species, and with the red winged parrot and the Amboina king parrot. Too rare to be of value to bird catches, the princess parrot and its young are occasionally caught and eaten by Australian Aborigines.
Key Facts: Sizes,
Weight, breeding, lifestyle, related Species
Length: 1 1/2 ft
Breeding:
Sexual Maturity: 3 to 4 years.
Nest site: Eucalyptus tree.
Incubation: About 3 weeks.
No of Eggs: 4 to 6
Lifestyle: Habit: Pairs of groups up to
20.
Diet: Fruits, grass seeds, berries, herbaceous
plants, and acacia blossoms and seeds.
Related Species: Other Polytelis species
include the superb parrot, P. swansonii, and the regent parrot, P. anthopeplus.
Distribution: Although a rare bird,
the princess parrot can be found in the interior of the central and western
Australia wherever there is scattered scrub..
Conservation: Rarely seen at any
time, this endangered species is totally protected by law.
Features of the Princess Parrot:
Female coloring: Very similar to the brightly
colored male princess parrot but slightly duller.
Tail: Very long and conspicuous.
Male coloring: Crown and sides of head
are light blue. Upper flight feathers are olive, and rump is violet.
Eggs: 4 to 6 eggs are incubated for about
3 weeks. Eggs are laid on decayed wood dust.
Did you know:
Normally very quiet,, the princess parrot has
a loud, unmelodic call. On long flights it makes contact with a log
chattering note.
When traveling long distances, the princess parrot
flies high and very fast. Its wing beat seem almost effortless.
The princess parrot is fully protected by law
from capture and is registered as an endangered species.
In the wild, princess parrots are surprisingly
tame and easy to approach. If alarmed, they will fly off a short
distance and resettle nearby.
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