Mulga Parrots / Mulga Parakeets aka Many-Colors Parrots, Many-Colors Parakeets, Varied Parrots
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The Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius) is also known as the Many-colored Parrot. This parrot is endemic to arid scrublands and lightly timbered grasslands in the interior of southern Australia.
Description:
These parrots average 27 cm or 10.8 inches in length (from beak to tip of tail)..
Male:
The male is multi-colored from which the common name "Many-colored Parrot" is derived.
The plumage is mainly green. The forehead is yellow. There is a distinctive red patch to the crown. The abdomen and thighs are yellow variably marked orange-red. The under tail-coverts are greenish-yellow. The inner lesser wing-coverts, bend of wing, primary-coverts, under wing-coverts and outer webs of primaries (longest wing feathers) are violet-blue. The outer lesser wing-coverts are yellow. The median wing-coverts are bluish-green. The outer secondaries are green with broad violet-blue edging. The lower back and upper tail-coverts are green with variable red markings and yellowish-green band with adjoining bluish line above. The upperside of the central tail-feathers is dark blue washed with green. The outer tail-feathers are blue with white tips. The tail underside is bluish with white tips.
The bill is blackish. They have a narrow grey periophthalmic ring. The irises are brown and the feet grey.
Female:
The female is duller and has red patches on her shoulder. Her forehead is dull orange-yellow. The crown has a dull red patch. The median wing-coverts are dull red. Other than those highlights, her plumage is mainly olive-grey. Her crown, back and wings are greenish-olive. Her breast is brownish-green. Her abdomen and under tail-coverts are bluish-green. The underside of her wings feature a pale wing-stripe. Her bill is brownish-grey.
Immatures:
Both sexes look like adults. However, they have a much duller plumage. Young males have less red to their abdomen. They attain the adult plumage when they are about 6 months old.
Breeding / Nesting:
These parrots reach sexual maturity when they are between 12 to 15 months old.
In Australia, Mulga Parrots breed between the months of July and December, though they may nest at other times as well. The nests are usually built low in the hollows of trees, as well as in stumps and fallen logs. These parrots may also take advantage of existing nests of other birds.
The average clutch size is 5 to 7 eggs with an incubation period of 19 to 20 days. The chicks will fledge after approximately four weeks, though they will often stay with their parents much longer, usually until the next breeding season.
Aviculture: The Mulga Parrot is common captivity. Though it is growing less common in the wild, this species is not uncommon in the pet trade. This may be due to its ease of breeding. In the United States, the breeding season usually begins in March. It is important that the nest box be kept warm, as the female will stop brooding early, and if they are breeding in cold areas, the chicks may die. These parrots may be bred as often as twice a year.
Taxonomy:
Genus: Scientific: Psephotus ... English: Red-backed Parakeets ... Dutch: Roodrugparkieten ... German: Singsittiche ... French: Perruche chantant
Species: Scientific: Psephotus varius ... English: Mulga Parrot, Manycolor Parakeet ... Dutch: Regenboogparkiet, Veelkleurige Parkiet ... German: Vielfarbensittich ... French: Perruche mulga
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