Psephotus haematonotus ........................... ...............By Gideon Scheepers

Description

These males are very colourful little parrots with a green head and a bluish tinge on the forehead and cheeks. The breast light green and yellow on the abdomen. The back is a dull blue-green. The inner median and secondary wing coverts are a bluish-green and the outer median wing-coverts are yellow. The primary and under wing-coverts, outer webs of primaries as well as the bend of wing are a violet-blue. The rump is red. They have a black bill, dark brown iris and the feet are grey. Females are an olive-grey, with a grey bill. Young look like the parents, but male have less red on rump, thy will obtain full adult plumage at around 4 months old. They grow to around 27 cm.

Range and Habitat

They are found in Southwest Australia barring Cooper’s Creek area, Northeast South Australia and Southeast Queensland. They prefer open woodland, orchards, savannah with sparse trees and cultivated areas. They are usually seen in pairs or small groups. In winter you will see flocks of around 100 birds. They will spend hours foraging on the ground in the shade of the trees, and can be seen near homesteads and in cultivated fields

Housing in Aviculture

These birds need to exercise, as they tend to become overweight quickly. They can be housed in conventional and suspended aviaries. Double wiring is essential , as males will go to any lengths to attact his neighbour. The nestboxes used for them are cockatiel type measuring300mm x 300mm x 300mm, some people like to use a deeper nest box of around 45 cm. We have had hens laying in African Grey boxes , so they are not that fussy.

Breeding in Aviculture

They are easy and free breeders, and should be bred each pair in its own aviary as they tend to fight. Hens will lay a clutch of 5 to 7 eggs, and incubate them for 19 days. The chicks will fledge at about 28 days old and are independent after two weeks. The hen will readily give a second and even a third clutch. Red-rumps can be used as foster parents.

Mutations

Various mutations are established in aviculture including, Par-Blue (Recessive), Blue (Recessive), Lutino (Sex Linked), Cinnamon (Sex Linked), Lime (Sex Linked), Platinum (Sex Linked), Faded, Dun Fallow, Bronze Fallow, Greygreen, Opaline, ADM Pied (Recessive), Black-eyed Clear , Silver (Sex Linked and Recessive) Par-Blue Pied (Double Recessive), Silver Pied (Sex Linked and Recessive) and Red Suffused