Cliff parakeet
| Cliff parakeet | ||||||||||
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Cliff parakeet |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Neophema petrophila | ||||||||||
| ( Gould , 1841) |
The cliff parakeet ( Neophema petrophila ) is a species of parrot from the genus of the grass parakeets ( Neophema ). In Australia it occurs exclusively on the coast and is rarely more than a few hundred meters from the sea. The cliff parakeet thus colonizes a very unusual habitat for a parrot species.
Cliff Parakeets are protected by law in Australia but are common birds within their relatively small range.
Appearance
Cliff Parakeets reach a body length of 22 centimeters and weigh between 44 and 67 grams. The gender dimorphism is only slightly pronounced. Of all the grass parakeets , they have the dullest plumage color. Compared to the American Parakeet and the African Parakeet, their physique appears compact.
In the male, the vertex and the top of the body are brownish olive. Similar blue-winged parrot and elegant parrot they have a dark blue headband that is edged in light blue. The rein, the area around the eyes and the front half of the cheek are also light blue. The belly is brownish yellow and turns into a bright yellow on the flanks and the under tail-coverts. Similar to the fine parakeet, some individuals of the cliff parakeets have orange colored areas on their belly. The bow of the wing is purple. On the arm covers and the small outer wing covers, the violet turns into a light blue. The hand covers and wings are black-blue. The underside of the tail is yellow. The small beak is dark gray and the iris is dark brown. The females are similar to the males, but usually have a much narrower headband.
distribution and habitat
Cliff Parakeets occur in three disjoint distribution areas along the coast and on the offshore islands of southern and southwestern Australia.
Among the grass parakeets, cliff parakeets have the greatest habitat specialization. They occur exclusively in the sand dunes of the coast, the mangroves, salt marshes and in the coastal marshland. They also colonize bare rock islands.
behavior
The food of the cliff parakeets consists of the seeds of grasses and seeds and fruits of shrubs that grow between the rocks of the intertidal zone. Succulents are among the most important food plants . There are individual populations who sleep on islands near the coast and whose feeding areas are on the coast of the mainland. These birds cross 20 kilometers of open sea on the flight to the feeding grounds.
The cliff parakeet has an unusual social life for parrots. Unlike most parrots, it lives in pairs or in small flocks outside of the mating season, and forms breeding colonies during the breeding season. It is more typical for parrots that breeding birds separate from the flock and live in pairs during the breeding season.
The breeding season of the cliff parakeets falls from August to December. Unlike most parrots, they do not breed in tree hollows, but in crevices and under rock ledges. The nests are often well hidden behind vegetation. The clutch consists of four to six eggs. It only breeds the female. The male feeds the female at or near the nest. Both parent birds are involved in raising the nestlings. The young birds fledge at around 30 days and form loose fodder swarms with their parent birds.
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 .
Web links
- Neophema petrophila in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2011. Posted by: BirdLife International, 2009. Accessed November 13, 2011th