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Australian King Parrot

( Alisterus scapularis )

Also known as:
King Parrot, Eastern King Parrot, Queensland King Parrot, King Parakeet, King Lory, Red Lory, Scarlet and Green Parrot, Blood Rosella

Also known as:
King Parrot, Eastern King Parrot, Queensland King Parrot, King Parakeet, King Lory, Red Lory, Scarlet and Green Parrot, Blood Rosella

Geography:

DID YOU KNOW?

The Australian King Parrot acquires its adult plumage by a slow moult, which is completed by the time it is over two years old.

<p><em>Alisterus</em></p>
Genus:

Alisterus

<p><em>scapularis</em></p>
Species:

scapularis

Size:

43 cm (16.8 in)

Weight:

195-275 g (6.8 x 9.6 oz)

Subspecies including nominate:

two: A.s. scapularis, A.s. minor

Colour Adult:

A.s. scapularis: Male-red head, neck and underparts; hindneck has blue band; back and wings dark green; wing has silver/green band when folded; blue lower back and rump; tail black tinged with blue. Upper mandible orange/red with black tip, lower mandible black with orange base. Eye yellow. Female-green head and upperparts; red lower breast down to abdomen; silver/green on wing minimal or absent; dark green tail with pink at tip. Beak grey.
A.s. minor: Both adults as in scapularis, but smaller in size.

Colour Juvenile:

A.s. scapularis: As in adult female but lower breast green. Beak dull yellow.

Call:

Calls in flight are shrill and somewhat loud. When alarmed harsh and metallic shrieking. Males give high-pitched flute-like notes when perched.

Xeno-canto Wildlife Sounds-Australian King Parrot

More Information:

Avibase
Birds in Backyards

Content Sources:

CITES
BirdLife International
Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Birds of the World
Parrots: A Guide to Parrots of the World, Juniper and Parr, 1998
Animal Ageing and Longevity Database
Parrots of the World, Forshaw and Cooper, 1977. 2010 edition
Parrots of the World, Forshaw, 2006.
Parrots in Aviculture, Low, 1992.
Psittacine Aviculture, Schubot, Clubb and Clubb, 1992.
Parrots: Their Care and Breeding, Low, 1986.

Captive Status:

Fairly common in Australia, less so elsewhere.

Longevity:

20-25 yrs

Housing:

Walk-in enclosure, minimum length 3 m (9.8 ft).

Diet:

Small seed mix such as: canary, oats, safflower and a bit of hemp; spray millet; limited sunflower seed, dry, soaked or sprouted; sprouted or cooked beans and pulses; boiled maize; green leaves such as: Swiss chard, lettuce, sowthistle, dandelion, chickweed; vegetables such as: carrot, celery, zucchini, squash, green beans and peas in the pod; fruit such as: apple, pear, banana, cactus fruits, oranges; nuts such as: lightly cracked hazelnuts, pecans and roasted peanuts; complete pellet.

Enrichment:

Nest Box Size:

Nest box or nesting log.

Clutch Size:

3-6

Fledging Age:

5 weeks

Hatch Weight:

Peak Weight:

Weaning Weight:

World Population:

Unknown; generally common but lost from cleared and afforested areas. Declining.

IUCN Red List Status:
Least Concern

CITES Listing:
Appendix II

Threat Summary:

Population is affected by ongoing habitat loss; birds disappear from logged areas.

Range:

A.s. scapularis: SE coast and CE mainland Australia.
A.s. minor: NE Australia.

Habitat:

Occurs up to 1625 m (5330 ft). Found in variety of habitats from high forested areas to lower more open spaces. During the breeding season birds are found in more dense forest such as wet sclerophyll forest, gullies, Eucalyptus woodland and savanna woodland bordering with riverine forest. Also, outside of breeding season they are found in cultivated lands, parks, orchards and sometimes gardens.

Wild Diet:

Eats fruits, flowers, berries, nuts, Eucalypt, Acacia and Angophora seeds, insect larvae, buds and other vegetation. A favourite is mistletoe Viscum album.

Ecology and Behaviour:

Are seasonally nomadic to a degree. Usually found in pairs or small groups, or post-breeding flocks of up to 50 individuals. Conspicuous when not feeding; when eating wary and quiet. Gather in groups to feed in morning, then sit quietly through the heat of the day, becoming active again in late afternoon.

Clutch and Egg Size:

3-6 rounded eggs, 33.0 x 27.0 mm (1.3 x 1.0 in)

Breeding Season:

September-January; nesting is in a hollow limb or a deep cavity in large trees.

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