Collett Parakeet

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Collett Parakeet
Collett parakeet, female

Collett parakeet, female

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Parrots (Psittaciformes)
Family : True parrots (Psittacidae)
Tribe : Flat-tailed Parakeets (Platycercini)
Genre : Singing Parakeets ( Psephotus )
Type : Collett Parakeet
Scientific name
Psephotus dissimilis
Collett , 1898

The Collett parakeet ( Psephotus dissimilis ) is a species of parrot that is one of the flat-tailed parakeets . It occurs exclusively in Australia. Similar to the golden-shouldered parakeet, the range of the Collett parakeet has steadily shrunk in the course of the 20th century and the population is declining. Many regions of the former distribution area only show a patchy occurrence of this species. There is no longer any genetic exchange between individual populations. A repopulation of regions in which the Collett's Parakeet once was obviously not taking place. The species is protected in Australia and is listed on Appendix I of the CITES agreement.

Appearance

The collett parakeet reaches a body length of 27 centimeters and weighs between 50 and 60 grams. The species shows a pronounced sexual dimorphism . The predominantly green colored female can hardly be distinguished from the female of the closely related golden-shouldered parakeet .

The male of the Collett Parakeet has a black forehead and a black crown. The region from the base of the upper beak to the under eye strip is also black. The ear covers as well as the cheeks and throat are turquoise up to the upper chest. The front back, shoulder feathers and umbrella feathers are dark brown. The back and rump are blue-green. On the upper tail-coverts, the plumage brightens to a yellowish green. The feathers of the upper tail-coverts have a fine dark gray border. The small and middle wing covers are brown, as are the outer arm covers. The outer arm covers have a golden yellow border on the outer flags. The wings are also brown, with the edge of the outer wings being light yellow. The underbust, the belly and the thighs are turquoise. The anus region and the under tail-coverts are orange-red. Here the feathers are broadly lined with white. The beak is small and blue-gray with a dark upper beak tip. The iris is dark brown.

Females are mostly green in color. The forehead, crown and reins are washed out grayish brown up to the front half of the cheek. The ear covers and the back half of the cheek are light green and slightly bluish. The throat is a light turquoise to the chest and the sides of the neck as well as the upper flank region. The front back, shoulder feathers, and umbrella feathers are of a light bronze green. The rear back is matt blue-green up to the upper tail-coverts. Similar to the male, the upper tail-coverts light up yellowish. The anus region as well as the under tail coverts are dull pink with a wide white border.

Collett parakeets are powerful fliers with a quick flight. They cover greater distances at high altitudes.

distribution and habitat

Similar to the golden-shouldered parakeet, the collett parakeet only has a very small distribution area. It occurs exclusively in the north of the Northern Territory . Its habitat is the tropics shaped by the monsoons . Here the Collett parakeet populates the open tree savannah and sparsely tree-covered grassland with a high proportion of termite mounds.

It has been proven that Collett parakeets leave their breeding area after the breeding season. However, very little is known about the migration that then took place. It is believed that the migration is limited to a small area. Only the flocks, which are made up of not yet sexually mature Collett parakeets, show a somewhat larger migratory movement and move around for up to 100 kilometers.

behavior

The food spectrum of the Collett Parakeet is dominated by fine grass and herb seeds. Other seeds as well as fruits, flowers and nectar as well as insects and their larvae make up a smaller proportion.

Collett parakeets are cave-breeders that prefer to breed in caves in termite mounds. The female digs the cave and needs about three weeks for her digging work. The clutch consists of three to five eggs. The laying interval is 1.5 to 2.5 days. It only breeds the female. The breeding season is between 20 and 22 days. The young birds leave the breeding cave about 27 to 28 days after hatching.

The reproduction rate of the Collett Parakeets is relatively high. Of the 199 eggs found in an investigation, 120 nestlings hatched. 99 of these nestlings fledged. This corresponds to an average annual reproductive success of 2.1 young animals per nest. Among the predators of Collettsittiche counts black-headed monitor and Beutelmarderart Daxyurus hallucatus .

Keeping in human care

Collett parakeets are considered to be extremely beautiful parakeets. They have long been kept as pet birds outside of Australia. The offspring, which have been bred in a cooler climate for several generations, have proven to be more resistant than this tropical species suggests. In regions with cold, wet and windy weather, however, you need completely covered aviaries with solid side walls. However, breeding Collett Parakeets are very aggressive towards conspecifics and other bird species.

supporting documents

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Forshaw, p. 530
  2. ↑ a b Forshaw, p. 531
  3. ↑ a b Forshaw, p. 533
  4. ^ Forshaw, p. 534

literature

Web link