Female above, male below
Photo © Tannin
Wyperfeld National Park, western Victoria, August 2003
- Polytelis anthopeplus
Identification
37-42 cm
- Yellow plumage
- Dark olive-green back. The eastern sub-species has brighter plumage.
- Bluish-black flight feathers
- Red band across the mid-wings
- Red beak
Female: greener overall, especially on the head and body. A green, although the underparts are black.
Distribution
Endemic to Australia with 2 distinct areas:
- Southwest area of Western Australia (estimated population 20,000)
- Southwest New South Wales, Northwest Victoria and Riverland/Mallee region of South Australia (estimated population - 1,500)
Taxonomy
Photo © by The Bosun
Banrock Station Winery & Wetlands, Kingston-on-Murray, South Australia, October 2012
Subspecies
There are 2 subspecies[1]:
- P. a. anthopeplus:
- South-western Australia
- P. a. monarchoides:
- Interior western part of south-eastern Australia
Habitat
In Western Australia, Eucalyptus groves and wooded areas, especially Salmon Gum (Eucapyptus salmonophloia); In Eastern Australia, River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), floodplain, woodland and mallee.
Between destruction of the River Murray floodplains by water extraction and diversion, logging, and increasing salinity, and destruction of the surrounding mallee in favour of wheatfields and irrigated farms the eastern subspecies is struggling
Behaviour
Breeding
They require mature River Red Gums with hollows to nest in, situated within sensible flying distance of large areas of undisturbed mallee. The clutch consists of 3-8 eggs which are incubated by the female for 21 days. Both adults care for the young. Nests are in hollow branches. Can also be in holes in large old or dead trees.
Diet
The diet includes seeds, buds, flowers and insect larvae. They usually feed on ground, but may feed in the canopy in pairs or small groups.
Vocalisation
The voice includes harsh "scoldings" and soft "chatterings". It includes a rolling, mellow, deep-throated "quarrak-quarrak".
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Birds in Backyards
- BirdLife Australia
- BirdLife International.
- Field Guide to Australian Birds - Michael Morcombe
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Regent Parrot. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Regent_Parrot
External Links
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