Australian King Parrots aka Eastern King, Queensland King, King Lory, Scarlet Parrot, Green Parrot
The Australian King Parrot Alisterus scapularis are endemic to Eastern Australia.
They are found in humid and heavily forested upland regions of the eastern portion of the continent, including eucalyptus wooded areas in and directly adjacent to subtropical and temperate rainforest. They range from North and Central Queensland to Southern Victoria.
They are frequently seen in small groups with various species of Rosella. Further from their normal eastern upland habitat, they are also found in Canberra (Australia's national capital) during winter, outer western suburbs of Sydney, and the Carnarvon Gorge in Central Queensland.
Description:
The adult (>4 years) males are very striking in appearance with a red head, breast, and lower undersides, with a blue lower back, and green wings and tail. They have a reddish-orange upper beak with a black tip and a black lower beak, and yellow eye ring.
Females are similar in appearance except for a green head and breast, a black upper beak, and paler yellow eye ring. Juveniles of both sexes resemble the females. Adults of both sexes are very majestic birds, typically 42 cm (16 inches) in length including a long tail.
There is one subspecies, A.s. minor, which is found at the northern limit of its range, and is typically about 5 cm (2 inches) shorter than the nominate species but otherwise is similar in appearance.
Several exciting mutations have occurred in aviculture -- please refer to the bellow photos.
Australian King Parrots in Aviculture and as Pets:
In their native Australia, they are occasionally bred in aviaries and kept as calm and relatively quiet household pets if hand-raised, but are relatively unknown outside Australia.
As pets, they have limited "talking" ability and normally prefer not to be handled, but do bond readily to people and can be very devoted.
One owner describes her pet as follow:
"My King (called Skipper) was hand reared and talks beautifully even using the same intonation as I use. He is guaranteed to copy a phrase or word I repeat very slowly to him backing it up with it being repeated on a tape to him. He copies laughter too. We were advised to avoid whistling to him at the beginning as he needed to use our language.
He has his calling voice when he wants attention. He also naturally copies sound the microwave makes etc. He must listen carefully as when he hears certain words he starts on the associated repertoire. He watches us carefully.
You are so right about the need for a stimulating environment. His cage is large with colourful toys.You are right about the bonding to one person, as I am the only family member, whom he will allow to take him out of his cage and to whom he talks. Once out , he will go from one person to another.
They are, I think, capable of learning a lot , but I focused on him talking a lot , rather than learning tricks though he will lie upside down on my son's hand - something he learnt within weeks of having him , as a 6 week old. He was so young we had to hand feed him. He also jumps on command from one arm to another and take pens or pencils out of a tub . We simply did not pursue activities as such, now 3 he still does these things,
His cage is the size of a big Macaws cage, as he needs to feel a certain freedom. He had to learn to fly ,as he would have had to in the wild. He comes out frequently. He has never pecked me. However if I was not appropriate and hasty or did not approach him slowly he might I guess as he relies on the trust established . He is beautiful to look at and most engaging as he watches everything that goes on and if we go away for a weekend we leave the tv or music on .ON our return he starts on one of his repertoires. ,nodding his head up and down with his eyes flashing bright yellow with excitement . Perhaps his companionability is one of his attractions.
Delightful birds. Comes out happily and talks as he sits on my shoulder. Not an easy bird - unless you know about them." Christine Rogers
Life expectancy in the wild is unknown, but some pets have been known to live up to 25 years. However, some King Parrots are known to develop lung diseases as a result of living indoors as household pets.
Taxonomy:
Species: Scientific: Alisterus scapularis scapularis ... English: Australian King Parrot ... Dutch: Australische Koningsparkiet ... German: Australischer Königssittich ... French: Platycerque à croupion bleu 
Sub-Species: minor, scapularis
CITES II - Endangered Species
Sub-species:
Buru Island King Parrots
Green-winged King Parrots
Halmahera King Parrots
Moluccan King-Parrot
Moszkowski Green-winged King Parrots
Peleng Island King Parrots
Salawati King Parrots
Salvadori's Green-winged King Parrots
Smaller Australian King Parrots: Species: Scientific: Alisterus scapularis minor ... English: Smaller Australian King Parrot ... Dutch: Kleine Australische Koningsparkiet ... German: Kleiner Australischer Königssittich ... French: Petit platycerque à croupion bleu
CITES II - Endangered Species Distribution: North-eastern Queensland Related Websites: Lexicon of Parrots (Please scroll down to no. 2 - click on link to view photo.)Sula Island King Parrots
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