Last weekend (20/21 Sept) a friend was walking on the Hackett side of
Mt Majura in Canberra. She observed a parrot, roughly Crimson
Rosella size, with a red head and yellow throat. These
characteristics were quite distinctive.
A perusal of the field guides suggest that the bird was a Red-capped
Parrot Purpureicephalus spurius. The Western Rosella Platycercus
icterotis is perhaps also a contender. The trouble is that both
species are found only in the SW corner of Western Australia. So:
1. any other ID suggestions?
2. is the Red-capped Parrot kept as an aviary bird in Eastern
Australia? If so, she could have seen an escapee, oops, escaper.
David
PS A quick perusal of Forshaw's Parrots of the World suggests
that:
1. red and yellow are common colours in parrots
2. these colours are commonly found in the
head/face/chin/throat/neck regions of parrots
3. worldwide, only three parrot species have red heads and yellow
throats/neck sides: the extinct Carolina Parakeet and the two
species from SW WA mentioned above.
Visit ApologyAustralia: http://apology.west.net.au/
____________________________________________
David McDonald
PO Box 1355, Woden ACT 2606, Australia
Tel: +61 2 6231 8904 (h); +61 2 6249 5618 (w)
Fax: +61 2 6249 0740
E-mail:
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