Princess Parrot

Description

The Princess Parrot is a medium sized parrot, 34 to 46 cms long and weights between 110 and 120 grams. The plumage is mostly green with a pink throat, bluish crown, and bright green shoulders. The rump is blue and the tail is long and narrow. The males have longer tail feathers and brighter coloring than females. The male also has a coral-red beak, while the female's is duller and has a greyish crown. Another difference is that the male has an orange iris, while the female's is much browner. In addition, the male of the species has a longer, projecting extension from the end of the 3rd primary (flight) feather on each side. This projection is called a 'spatula' or 'spatule". It appears in mature male birds.

Behaviour

This species is nomadic, arriving in small groups to breed and then disappearing. It is one of Australia’s least known parakeets because it is so elusive,^{[citation needed]} even though it is spread across the interior of Australia. It inhabits arid woodland and scrub with spinifex, eucalypts,acacias, etc. They are unusual among parrots in engaging in mobbing behaviour against predators. They feed on the seeds of grasses and shrubs.

                               

Parrots live on all tropical and subtropical continents. This includes Australia and the islands of the Pacific Ocean, North and South America, South Asia.