Dear birding-aussers
I was at a private residence this afternoon and was asked if I could
identify a caged parrot which the owners (non-bird-watchers) had bought as a
"Queensland grass parrot" from a local pet shop.
The bird was a beautiful, healthy male (they originally had a pair but the
female died) Neophema sp. with what appeared to be all the features of a
Scarlet-chested Parrot, BUT with the addition of chestnut shoulder patches
(as in Turquoise Parrot).
Question: Do male S-C.P's ever have chestnut shoulder patches or was this a
S-C.P/T.P. hybrid bred for the cage-bird market?? Either way, are they a
relatively common bird on the market?? Any ideas?
I should add that I have not seen Scarlet-chested Parrot and was somewhat
startled to be presented with something very like it in a suburban cage with
a couple of Cockatiels and a few Budgies - not the least because in a few
weeks I hope to be participating in a trip to the Murray Mallee with S-C.P's
as a key target bird.
From: Dr Richard Nowotny
Melbourne, Australia
Tel. (w) 61-3-9214.1420
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