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Australian King-ParrotAlternative name: "King Lory" |
Sightings
Australian King-Parrots love the fruit of White Cedar trees. Whoever has any around and lives in south-east Australia will probably have seen these big parrots. At our home until 2006, south of Narrabri, New South Wales, they were frequent visitors all through the cooler seasons of the year (or as long as the White Cedar fruit will last...).
Seen by us in significant numbers at relatively high altitudes (above 1300 m) in Mt. Kaputar National Park and along the slopes leading up to the peaks of the Nandewar Range. A flock of around 15 birds are permanent residents on the western fringes of Mt. Kaputar National Park.
Also sighted on a trip to the east of the dividing range, in the area from Armidale to Dorrigo, New South Wales.
Spotted by C. Kellenberg at Depot Beach, Murramarang National Park, NSW, in February 2009.
Not seen by us at all westward of Narrabri on a trip to outback NSW and South Australia in March 2008.
Photos
King-Parrots are very easy-going customers, which makes it relatively easy to obtain nice shots of them. A few examples are displayed below.
Frontal view of a male Australian King-Parrot (click on image for large version)
Lateral view of a male Australian King-Parrot sitting in a Currajong tree (click on image for large version)
Male Australian King-Parrot chewing on a White Cedar nut (click on image for large version)
Underside of a female Australian King-Parrot sitting in a White Cedar Tree (click on image for large version)
Lateral view of a female Australian King-Parrot eating White Cedar fruit under a tree (click on image for large version)
Close-up portrait of a female Australian King-Parrot chewing on a White Cedar nut (click on image for large version)
Frontal view of an Australian King-Parrot seen near a waterhole in early morning light (click on image for large version)
Lateral view of the same bird as above, not completely sharp due to faint light (click on image for large version)
Nest
It is not entirely certain whether the opening to the tree hollow shown below is in fact the entrance to the birds' nest. We saw them around the opening, but not actually entering it. The same treetrunk had another opening on the other side.
Entrance to the nest(?) of a family of Australian King-Parrots
Habits
Australian King Parrots eat both fruit and seeds. They love apricots and figs (just before they turn ripe) and the fruit of the White Cedar tree. The latter they will eat either sitting in the tree or later from the ground, once they have fallen. Below an example of endemic seeds that they eat. At the time when we saw them around this bush, they were being hustled by an Olive-backed Oriole. It is unusual for parrots to be hustled, because they pose no threat to other species' chicks, so the fight may have been about food competition.
Young male Australian King-Parrot feasting on the seeds of a bush (click on image for large version)
Here a closer look at the seeds (click on image for large version)
The photo below shows that Australian King Parrots can be quite curious.
