Brown Parakeet

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Brown Parakeet
Brown Parakeet

Brown Parakeet

Systematics
Order : Parrots (Psittaciformes)
Family : True parrots (Psittacidae)
Tribe : Flat-tailed Parakeets (Platycercini)
Genre : Flat-tailed Parakeets ie S. ( Platycercus )
Type : Brown Parakeet
Scientific name
Platycercus venustus
( Kuhl , 1820)

The brown parakeet ( Platycercus venustus ), also called black-headed parakeet, is a species of parrot and is counted among the flat-tailed parakeets . It occurs exclusively in Australia. It is a rare parakeet with only patchy distribution and its population is declining. This is possibly due to an increasing and lasting drought that set in in its area of ​​distribution after the tree savannah was cleared by fire and the subsequent grazing with cattle and sheep .

The name of the species honors the botanist Robert Brown .

Appearance

Brown parakeets reach a body length of 28 centimeters and weigh between 78 and 100 grams.

The males of the brown parakeets have predominantly black head plumage. Only the cheek spots are white with a variable blue-violet lower boundary line. The anal region and the under tail coverts are red. The underside of the body is otherwise light yellow, with the individual feathers lined with black. This part of the plumage therefore looks very scaled. The buttocks, the front back and the umbrella feathers are black. The individual feathers have a wide, light yellow border. The bend of the wing, the outer arm coverts and the middle outer wing coverts are blue-violet, whereby the coloring of the outer arm coverts is somewhat lighter overall. The hand covers, hand and arm wings are black-brown. The back of the back, the rump and the upper tail coverts are light yellow. The inner control springs are dark bronze-green on the upper side and merge into a dark blue on the inside flag and at the tip of the control springs. The beak is grayish horn-colored. The iris is dark brown.

The females are similar to the males, but the black of the head plumage is a little more dull. The plumage of the young birds is a little more dull than that of fully grown specimens. The apex and neck region of most individuals are matt gray-black with isolated red feathers. The feathers on the front back and the umbrella feathers are dark gray with a wide light yellow border.

The flight of the brown parakeets is fast and overall less wavy than is characteristic of other flat-tailed parakeets. They cover short distances by flying just above the ground. They slide upwards when they want to perch in a tree. They cover longer distances at an altitude that is well above the treetops.

distribution and habitat

Brown parakeets are native to the northwest and north of Australia and are also found there on some coastal islands. They inhabit different habitats, especially open forests, where they prefer regions that have watercourses. They have also been found in high savannahs and gallery forests . Long migrations are uncharacteristic for brown parakeets. In dry seasons they only stay in closer proximity to the watercourses.

behavior

Brown parakeets eat seeds, fruits, berries, flowers, nectar and probably like most Australian parrots also insects and their larvae. Like the seeds of eucalyptus trees, grass seeds play a major role in their diet.

So far, there is no reliable knowledge of the period in which the breeding season of the Brown Parakeet falls. Likewise, very little is known about the rearing of nestlings in the wild. The vocalizations of the males increase at the beginning of the breeding season, because during this time they quarrel loudly about suitable nesting holes.

Brown parakeets are cave-breeders that usually nest in eucalyptus trees near water. The clutch consists of two to four eggs. The nesting base in the breeding cave is wooden mulm.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Forshaw, p. 476
  2. ^ Coenraad Jacob Temminck: Account of some new Species of Birds of the Genera Psittacus and Columba, in the Museum of the Linnean Society . Transactions of the Linnean Society London 13 ("1822"), p. 119 (1821)
  3. ^ Forshaw, p. 473
  4. ^ Forshaw, p. 477
  5. ^ Forshaw, p. 474
  6. ^ Forshaw, p. 477

literature

Web links

Commons : Brown Parakeet  - Collection of images, videos and audio files