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Superb Parrot

(Polytelis swainsonii)
Alternative names: "Green Leek", "Barraband Parakeet", "Scarlet-breasted Parrot"
Size: 37-42 cm

Habitat
(for details refer to a field guide)

Superb Parrots are found only in a small part of the Australian continent. During their breeding season they are concentrated in an area a few hundred km across to the east of Canberra, ACT. Outside the breeding season (especially when grass seeds are ripe) they disperse in all directions, however mostly northwards, into the north-west slopes and plains of NSW, up to just south of the NSW/QLD border. They are not found anywhere else.

Superb Parrots can usually be found in open forest with grassy undergrowth, often around River Red Gums.

During the summer Superb Parrots prefer the cooler hill climate in southern central NSW over the hotter, drier conditions in the north-west slopes and plains. In the Narrabri area they are seasonal visitors, depending on rainfall. When there is enough rain (and thus grass seeds), they appear at the local radio observatory.

Sightings

Superb Parrots normally prefer to stay in the greener hill ranges of south-east Australia, but do also venture out into the north-west slopes and plains, including the Narrabri area. The ones displayed below have been sighted 25 km west of town, at the radio observatory. There flocks of up to 50 birds have been seen in some years (2003, 2004, 2005). In other years there were less birds. During some months of the year (usually springtime, from October to December) they are not seen in the Narrabri area, probably because there are no suitable seeds for them.

In the 2006/07 season they came back during the second half of December. In the 2007/08 season they were first spotted in the second week of January.

C. Kellenberg reports that up to about 50 were seen regularly at the observatory during the autumn of 2009. For those not familiar with the status of this species as threatened, 50 birds represent about 1% of the total estimated population of 5000. Seen again at the radio observatory in 2010 and then, starting mid-May, also in 2011, when up to 12 birds were spotted.

A single male bird was seen 20 km east of Narrabri in January 2009.

Their call is a bit similar to that of Cockatiels, although usually lower-pitched.

Photos

Flock of Superb Parrots; photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg

Male Superb Parrot on a paddock

Male Superb Parrot; photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg

Male Superb Parrot in a eucalypt tree

Mottled (probably moulting) female Superb Parrot

Underside of a female Superb Parrot. While they lack the yellow and red pattern that the males display around their throats, surprisingly the females are more coloured on their undersides, especially their legs

Immature female Superb Parrot(?)

Flock of Superb Parrots in flight; photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg

Flock of Superb Parrots eating seeds near the roadside

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive Elementary unit: Small flock

Food

Like many parrots, Superb Parrots are seed-eaters; primarily they feed on grass seeds.