Turquoise Parakeet
Geoffrey Dabb |
Creature Profile
The turquoise parakeet is endemic to eastern Australia, and its range extends from northeastern Victoria, through NSW to the granite belt of southeast Queensland. Adults grow to be about 7.9 inches in length and weigh about 40 grams. They are brightly colored birds with bright yellow to green crowns and upperparts. The wings vary in color from turquoise to dark blue, and the bill is grayish-black. The males have bright blue faces, foreheads and cheeks and a red patch on both wings. Female colorations are duller and paler than the males and they lack the red patch on the wings.
Turquoise parakeets are found on steep, rocky ridges and gullies, rolling hills, valleys and river-flats in eucalyptus woodlands and open forests where there is a good water source. They only need to drink water once a day and usually drink in the morning before going out to feed. They are ground feeders and eat seeds of grasses, plants and shrubs, and they also eat flowers and fruit. They are also social and are always found in pairs. Breeding can occur between August and January, with September being most usual. The parents build nests in holes in dead eucalyptus trees from 2.5 to eight meters up from the ground. The female lays three to five eggs, and the incubation period lasts about 18 days. The young parakeets spend about a month in the nest.
Threats to the species include loss of habitat due to clearing of forest for logging, wild fires, and grazing. A recovery plan has been prepared for the species which aims to protect and maintain its known or any potential habitat and to prevent habitat interference.
Wikipedia Article
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Wikipedia Article Copyright Notice: This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Turquoise parrot". |
May 9, 2017
Glenn, C. R. 2006. "Earth's Endangered Creatures - Turquoise Parakeet Facts" (Online). Accessed 4/20/2024 at http://earthsendangered.com/profile.asp?sp=332&ID=4.
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