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Red-rumped Parrot

(Psephotus haematonotus)
Alternative names: "Grass Parrot", "Red-backed Parrot"; Misnomer: "Ground Parrot"
Size: 26-28 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Nominate race "haematonotus" is found in the south-eastern corner of the Australian continent, basically from the south-eastern corner of SA through VIC and all of NSW and southern QLD (with the exception of a narrow coastal strip, mostly along the south coast and the east coast north of about Sydney). Race "caeruleus" is found in the border area of SA and QLD (e.g. Innamincka National Park).

Red-rumped Parrots are usually found in open woodland and open grassland, including paddocks, wherever there are grass seeds to be found. In the breeding season they are often near River Red Gums or other tall eucalypts with suitable nesting hollows.

Sightings

Red-rumped Parrots are relatively small parrots. They are one of the most common parrot species in inland NSW and can be seen in the Narrabri area regularly and in large numbers.

Numerous around our place, 20 km east of Narrabri, in autumn, when seen in flocks of up to 50 birds, but almost absent in winter, when there are few or no seeds left on the paddocks. Also found on the western slopes of the Nandewar Range.

Although apparently so colourful, their camouflage while foraging for seeds in grassland is excellent. While on the ground, the males' red rump is invisible, but hidden between the wings, as can be seen in some of the photos below. In trees they can also be hard to spot.

Photos

Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a look here.

Frontal view of a male Red-rumped Parrot

Lateral view of a male Red-rumped Parrot

Frontal view of a male bird foraging in grass

Lateral view of a male bird foraging in grass

Here a view almost from behind, showing most clearly the red patch on its rump

In this photo of a drinking male the whole of its back can be seen clearly

Frontal view of a female Red-rumped Parrot

Lateral view of a female Red-rumped Parrot

Frontal view of a female bird foraging in grass

Here seen with its head turned sideways

Male Red-rumped Parrot in its colourful plumage, right, and well-camouflaged female, left

Here a different perspective

Pair of Red-rumped Parrots in a White Cedar tree; this photo demonstrates the birds' camouflage

Red-rumped Parrots taking a bath; the one in the water is the α-male

Immature male Red-rumped Parrot

Lateral view of an immature male Red-rumped Parrot

Probably immature, moulting female Red-rumped Parrot

Three out of a litter of five Red-rumped Parrot chicks ; there is also a photo of all five chicks

Breeding information

Breeding season: Sep - Dec Eggs: 4 - 7 Incubation period: 18 - 20 days Fledging age: 28 - 35 days

Nest

Type: Tree hollow Material: Wood dust Height above ground: 2 - 15 m

Pair of Red-rumped Parrots at the entrance to their nesting hollow

Here the female just after emerging from inside

Eggs

Size: 24 x 19 mm Colour: White Shape: Rounded

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive Elementary unit: Pair/small flock

Red-rumped Parrots very conspicuously live in pairs inside small flocks, if not accompanied by their young. This fact is so prominent, because the male and female are so easy to distinguish.

Red-rumped Parrots are preyed upon by falcons, mostly Australian Hobbies and Peregrine Falcons. There is a separate page describing how various bird species reacted under threat from Australian Hobbies hunting, including a photo showing how a Red-rumped Parrot hid in dense growth.

Food

Like many parrots, Red-rumped Parrots are seed-eaters; primarily they take grass seeds, but are also found regularly foraging in reeds.