I was hoping someone authoritative would
say that they had to be Red-rumped Parrots. A couple of days ago I was
attracted by an unusual call just like the one described, and found about 10
parrots high in a tall eucalypt in my GBS area in Holder. They were greenish
all over, with greenish blue sheen around the head. Not having the field guide
at the time, I examined all of them through the bins, looking for the pretty
scalloped pink tail I’ve seen on the Superbs. None of them had one. Also
I noticed that some were a much brighter greenish blue than others, which were
more olive coloured. Size was less obvious as they were so high up, but all the
same I thought they had to be Red-rumped Parrots, except I’m used to
seeing them in small groups on the ground, not at the top of a tall tree. I
examined all of them (from below) trying to see red rumps, and when one
obligingly displayed one for me, I went in and confidently marked them off on
my GBS, only my second sighting here all year. If there’s any doubt about
this, please let me know. I’m not familiar with the Red-rumped Parrot
call, but as described by Pizzey, and in the email below, it fits.
Sue Beatty
From: Philip Veerman
[
Sent: Saturday, 5 June 2010 1:26
PM
To: 'casburnj'
Cc: 'canberra birds'
Subject: [canberrabirds] Superb
parrots ?- or ? Belconnen Golf Course
It is hard to answer the first question as
it could be either of these or something else. And no way to know if our answer
is correct. The written description fits Red-rumped Parrots and Eastern Rosellas best of all, both of which are of course
much more likely. The description of the call does not seem like Superb
Parrots. Spread out tail feather is not diagnostic to any species of parrots.
It is odd that I don't think anyone has
mentioned there is a very big size difference between Superb Parrots &
Swift Parrots. Which is enough to pick the difference between these two.
Especially when considering overall length in head to tail or in wing
span. The former is a big parrot, the latter a very small one.
On Fri, Jun 4, 2010 at 4:41 PM, casburnj <> wrote:
I have been trying to decide whether I saw 6 Superb Parrots or 6
Swift Parrots in my brief viewing today. Could not tarry on the golf
course.
Description without binocs:
Birds flying up to the top of a tall gum
Allover greenish yellow appearance with some brief flashes of red
Voice high pitched swit swit or chip chip then still noisy in the
tree with other sounds
Before landing the tail feathers were splayed out (looked like
spaces in between) and spikey looking with what looked like two longer feathers
below the fanned out ones.
Any ideas – especially the fanned out tail feathers.
Cheers
JEan
