|
|
RED WINGED PARROTFeatured Lists (Resources)
The male body is described as bright green with a blue lower back and rump, tail with a yellow tip, red wings, iris and bill that are orange, and gray feet. The female is quite different with a yellowish green body, red with pink trimmings on the wings, dark iris, and its rump and lower back are pale blue. Immature Red-winged Parrots are identical in coloration to the females. Red Winged Parrot Distribution and Habitat:Red-winged Parrots live in southern New Guinea, eastern Australia, including New South Wales. These birds live in riverine forests, arboreal forest edges, Acacia scrub, savanna, mangroves, and farmlands. Red Winged Behavior:Red-winged Parrots usually eat by hanging upside down on a branch and picking on seeds from eucalypts, acacias and hop bushes. The birds are usually chattering softly while feeding. These birds are arboreal and are rarely found on the ground. If they are on the ground they are probably eating fallen seeds or drinking water. When these birds are disturbed, they call out loudly while taking wing and flying to another set of trees. Their contact calls are noisy, strong, and sharp. These birds are usually seen with other parrots such as the Pale-headed Rosella and the Mallee Ringneck Parrot. The Red-winged Parrot usually forms flocks of 15-20 during the non-breeding season. Bigger flocks may form when food is scarce or when moving to another area. These birds are usually paired or with their family even when part of a flock. The flight path of this bird has a weaving motion with slight pauses in active flight. When these parrots descend in the air, they execute a series of plunging drops and pauses. Red Winged Diet:These birds eat seeds from eucalypts, acacia, and hop bushes, berries from the mistletoe, cultivated fruits, flowers, and insects. Red Winged Reproduction and Growth:The male usually develops adult plumage at two years of age and the female at a year and a half. The breeding season varies depending on what area the birds live in and may last for three to four months during late spring through the ending of summer. The nest is located in a hollow limb of a tree. They usually build the nest 35 feet above ground and the hole is about 3 feet deep. The female usually watches the eggs while the male looks for food. The female leaves the eggs only to eat with or be fed by her mate. The male usually helps with feeding the young.  |
The Red-winged Parrot is 27 cm (12.5 inches) in height. Their wings are 183-208 mm (7.2-8.2 inches) long, the tail is 14.5 cm (5.7 inches) long, the bill is 1.9 cm (0.7 inches) long, and its tarsus measures 2.2 cm (0.9 inches). The red wings that stands out from a green body is the distinguishing feature that make this animal uniquely recognizable.