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Description
Species Name: Princess Parrot
Species Latin Name: Polytelis alexandrae
Also known as: Queen Alexandra Parrot, Queen Alexandra Parakeet, Alexandra's Parakeet, Pirncess of Wales Parakeet, Rose-throated Parakeet, and Spinifex Parrot.
Native To: Australia
Located in: These birds are usually found only in central and western Australia.
Habitats: Located near forests, grasslands, and shrublands in tropical environments. Will be found where there are spinifex plants with nearby eucalypts, acasias, desert-oaks, desert poplars, hakeas, mistletoes, parakeelia, and other succulents around salt lakes.
Size (length): 340 – 460 mm (13.4 – 18.1 inches)
Wing span: 173 – 200 mm (6.8 – 7.9 inches)
Bill size: 14.5 – 17.5 mm (0.6 – 0.7 inches)
Weight: 92 – 120 grams (3.3 – 4.2)
Group size: This species are nomadic and will arrive in small groups to breed before dispersing once more. Usually seen in pairs when not in their breeding groups which can number up to 15 – 20 individuals.
Diet: These birds will mainly feed on plants low to the ground including grass seeds and berries. Their preferred foods consist of the fruit and blossoms of the acacia.
Lifestyle: Nomadic, terrestrial, congregatory, social, colonial
Lifespan: 20 – 30 years in captivity
Voice:
These birds have a long drawm out rolling 'creel-creel' call. They make a sharp 'queet queet' and quiet chirrups when feeding. They are also known to communicate with a 'clack-clack' followed by a clucking sound similar to that of a domestic chicken. These birds have been noted to be generally quite shy and quiet, as such they rarely make the previously mentioned calls.
Mating Behaviour: During courtship the male is very aggressive as he approaches the female. The male will be in upright position with raised head feathers as he bobs his head. He will spread his wings and tail as he runs back and forth in front of the female. There isn't much information on this species due to how shy they are however, it is believed that they are monogamous like most other parrots. It is assumed that these species will take a shared responsibility to take care of the eggs and young like other parrot species however, it seems unclear if this is actually the case or not. Once mating is done the mother and father will leave the nesting area altogether but may return to the same nest for the next mating season.
Reproductive Season: September – January or after sufficient rain
Egg Description: White and rounded
Eggs Per Clutch: 4 – 6
Egg Size: 28 x 22 mm (1.1 x 0.9 inches)
Nest Description: Nests will be located in eucalypt hollows on watercourses usually in desert-oaks. Nests will usually be close to other Princess Parrot nests.
Incubation Period: 3 weeks
Fledge date: 2 – 3 weeks
Sexual Maturity: 3 – 5 years
Scientific Classification:
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Genus: Polytelis
Description:
Princess Parrots are beautiful multi-coloured parrots with greenish/olive coloured feathers along their bodies. They have a light red throat with a blue capped head. Their back is more of an olive colour whereas their lower bodies are more of a yellow-green colour. They have a blusih patch of feathers along their lower stomach with a long yellow tail. A portion of the tips of their wings will be blue and then green. They have bright orange bills, orange eyes and small dark grey feet and legs. The females will have more blue feathers that cover more of their head whereas the males blue feathers will only cover the top portion of their head with their face being more of a green colour.
Population Trend: Stable
Population Size: Approximately 5,000
Conservation Status: Near Threatened
Potential threats and Conservation:
Main threats against these birds include habitat modifications, changes in the amounts of water avialable, changes in burning regimes, introduced predators and introduced competitors for food, water, and nesting sites.
Further Reading (general information):
Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess…
Ebird: ebird.org/species/alepar1
Kidadl: kidadl.com/facts/animals-natur…
Animal Diversity: animaldiversity.org/accounts/P…
Animalia: animalia.bio/princess-parrot
Book References:
The Australian Bird Guide Revised Edition published by CSIRO Publishing
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia published by Harper Collins
Birds of Australia by DK Nature Guide
The Slater Field Guide To Australian Birds Second Edition by Peter Slater, Pat Slater, and Raoul Slater