Barnard Parakeet
| Barnard Parakeet | ||||||||||
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Barnard Parakeet |
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| Barnardius barnardi | ||||||||||
| ( Vigors & Horsfield , 1827) |
The Barnard Parakeet ( Barnardius barnardi ) is a species of parrot within the tribe of the flat-tailed parakeets . However, its systematic position is controversial. Some authors assign it as Platycercus barnardi to the genus of the flat- tailed parakeet , others consider it only a subspecies of the ringed parakeet ( Barnardius zonarius ). The Barnard Parakeet is named after the British naturalist Edward Barnard (1786–1861).
Two subspecies of this species have been described.
Appearance
The Barnard Parakeet reaches a body length of 35 centimeters and weighs between 102 and 149 grams. Barnard's Parakeets are medium-sized parrots with a long, stepped tail. In contrast to the species of the flat-tailed parakeet , the Barnard parakeet lacks a speckle on the dorsal plumage. The blue patch on the cheeks is only very indistinctly set off from the rest of the head plumage.
The head and neck of the Barnard Parakeet are bright green. The red headband is characteristic of this species. Front back and shoulder feathers are deep blue-black. The rump and tail-coverts are bright yellowish green. The bow of the wing is blue in color. The small wing covers are yellowish green. Females are slightly paler in color than males.
distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the Barnard Parakeet is the interior of Eastern Australia. It occurs here from the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north-west of Queensland to the north-west of the Australian state of Victoria and in the south-east of South Australia . It is absent in the coastal areas.
The Barnard Parakeet is a bird of the so-called Mallee regions. The "scrubs and shrublands" (bushes and bush formations, MVG 14) consist of two to ten meters high eucalyptus bushes. The species known as Mallee have lignotuber and are multi-stemmed. There are around 200 species of Mallee eucalyptus. They form the driest eucalyptus communities and occur most frequently in areas with 200 to 350 mm (130 to 800) of rainfall, especially in Mediterranean climates with winter rain (zonobiom IV). Single-stemmed eucalyptus dominate when there is more rain, and acacias when there is less. Barnard's Parakeets occur in almost all regions with a Mallee population. They also inhabit tree savannahs, which are covered with eucalyptus and callitris trees. Agricultural zones are also populated by them if they have trees in their peripheral zone. They are also found in gallery forests .
behavior
Barnard Parakeets live in pairs or in small schools. They seek their food on the ground or on the outer branches of eucalyptus trees. They are sometimes also with straw parakeets , Blass head Rosella , singing parakeets and Bloodbelly parakeets socialized. Barnard's Parakeets are diurnal birds that first visit watering holes after sunrise and then fly on to their feeding grounds. At noon they seek shelter in the shade of trees and bushes. A second phase of activity begins at dusk. Barnard Parakeets are considered to be local birds.
The diet of the Barnard Parakeet consists of the seeds of grass and herbaceous plants as well as berries, fruits, flowers, buds and insects and their larvae. Barnard's Parakeets are cave-breeders that usually nest in eucalyptus trees. The full clutch consists of four to six eggs. The incubation period is 20 days. It only breeds the female. The young birds leave the nest box around five weeks old. They then form small family groups with the parent birds.
Keeping as an ornamental bird
Barnard Parakeets are often found as ornamental birds. However, they are considered belligerent and should therefore only be kept as a couple. Conspecifics or even closely related species should not even be kept in the neighboring aviary. As feed, they receive a commercial grain mix for large parakeets as well as fruit and berries.
supporting documents
Individual evidence
literature
- Joseph M. Forshaw : Australian Parrots. 1st German-language edition. Volume 2, Arndt-Verlag, Bretten 2003, ISBN 3-9808245-2-7 .
