Mulga Parrot

Multi-color parakeet pair left the male

The multi-color Parakeet ( Psephotus varius ) is a species of parrot in the genus of Australian singing parakeets.

Description

The multi-color parakeet reaches a length of 27-28 centimeters and a weight of 55 to 70 grams.

In the male head, neck, chest and upper abdomen are shiny green. The forehead is yellow and on the back of the head is a reddish stain to detect. The lower abdomen and the thighs are yellow with a variable orange-red coloration. The coverts are greenish - yellow. Of wing, primary-coverts, under wing-coverts and outer webs of primaries are violet blue. The outer small wing-coverts are yellow. The middle wing-coverts are bluish green. The outer secondaries are green with broad violet-blue seams. Rump and upper tail-coverts are green. About the upper tail-coverts runs a reddish brown fascia and over the rump a blue- green line. The middle tail feathers are dark blue with a greenish blurring. The bill is blackish. To the brown iris runs a narrow gray eye-ring. The feet are gray-brown. The cere is pink.

In the female, the upper head, back and wings are olive green. The forehead is dull orange - yellow. At the back of the head an obtuse red spots can be seen. The chest is brownish green. Lower abdomen and under tail-coverts are bluish green. The middle wing-coverts have a dull red wing spot. The underwings show a bright wing stripes. The beak is brownish gray.

In the immature birds, the green color of the plumage is duller. Young males show a duller red color on the lower abdomen and on the lower wings, a white ribbon. The adult plumage is reached after six months.

The contact call is a whistle that is repeated three to four times. Occasionally you will hear a faint chirping.

In captivity multicolor parakeets reach an age of 20 years.

Distribution and habitat

The multi-color parrot inhabits the dry mulga savannah and open woodland. Its circulation area covers the central Western Australia, southern Northern Territory, South Australia, south-west Queensland, western New South Wales and the extreme north-west of Victoria.

Food and lifestyle

The multi-color parakeet usually lives in pairs or in family groups. When food is scarce during the dry season, even swarms can create up to 100 birds. The main activity is in the early morning and late afternoon. The food is picked up on the ground. For malfunctions and danger he flies on a tree or bush and waits until the danger is over. It feeds on seeds, fruits, berries, vegetables, beetles and their larvae. Lots of colors parakeets are nomadic and looking at drying up of water sources to new habitats. They spend the hot hours of the day in the treetops. In flight, rapid wing beats alternating with wavy glide phases from.

Hatched from July to December. The nest is built in small Asthöhlen, eucalyptus trunks, rock crevices or caves in sand embankments. The nest consists of four to seven eggs and is incubated by the female alone. The incubation period is 19 days, at the time the female is fed by the male. After about 30 days, the chicks are fledged. The young birds are often left until the next breeding together with the parents.