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The Orange-bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster) is a small ‘Grass parakeet‘, so called for spending a lot of time on the ground feeding on seeds and grasses.

adults have, approximately, 21 cm length and a weight of around of 45 to 50 g..

Has the crown, the nape and the the mantle bright green, with one frontal band dark blue and a lighter blue later point that does not extend beyond the eyes.

Face and lores are yellowish-green. You have a few different bands in the wings Green and blue colors, the vane inmates of the wing-coverts are green, the blue outer.

The primary coverts are dark blue. The primary feathers Black has the outside edges with fine violet blue and yellow. The secondaries has a green border.

The underparts is blue. The chest Green is mixed with the greenish yellow color under the tail. The belly is very stained Orange. The top of queue is green with blue tip. The lateral tail feathers they are yellow with blue-green bases.

Peak and iris are black, the legs are grey.

The female is more off than the male, the frontal band has a single tone. The stain ventral Orange is smaller.

Between the juveniles, the frontal band is barely visible. The Wing band is very prominent and the bill is pale.

• Sound of the Orange-bellied Parrot.

As one migratory species, its habitat varies throughout the year, with the birds that live in the marshes, coastal dunes, pastures, scrub, estuaries, Islands, beaches and Moors generally within the 10 km of distance from shore.

There is practically no records more towards the inside of 5 km and most are within 2 km from the coast. The holes of mature eucalyptus, as the Smithton Peppermint (Eucalyptus nitida) and the Swamp gum (Eucalyptus ovata), they are used by the Orange-bellied Parrot for the nesting during the breeding season in Tasmania, and breeding habitat is a mosaic of moorland and reed-covered land, dominated by the Button Gras (Gymnoschoenus sphaerocephalus) and forests.

The behavior of foraging species are usually characterized by the power in the suelor or in low vegetation, in general a less than 1 m above ground.

The birds they feed usually in pairs or individually during the breeding season, and in small herds of variable size in non-breeding season. Solitary birds often have been feeding with other species, especially with the Blue-winged Parrot (Neophema chrysostoma).

In Tasmania, the only breeding place, spawning takes place in the months of November and December.

The nest of the Orange-bellied Parrot is located in natural cavities, between the 8 and 25 meters of height in eucalyptus (Eucalyptus nitida) and less frequently, in the (Eucalyptus ovata). The nest is sometimes maintained during several consecutive years. The marital ties they are strong and sometimes last a lifetime.

The spawning included among 3 and 6 eggs they are incubated during 21 days. Young people are altricial and remain in the nest for at least 5 weeks.

Initially, on Spring, the Orange-bellied Parrot they feed on plants. They mostly eat seed Sedge (Reedy) and parts of the herbs of the genus Boronia or Actinotus.

At the beginning of Winter, the regime being vegetarian, suffering some transformations. the Orange-bellied Parrot consume algae in decomposition, seeds and herbs Poaceae and Halophyte, that is to say, you adapt to saline environments, as the Rock Samphire (A maritime rhythm).

The goosefoot )Chenopodium) and Salt plants (Atriplex) also classic in their food. Introduced plants such as the Sea rocket (Cakile maritima) they are also popular.

Tamaño del área de distribución (reproducción/residente) 3.100 km2

The Orange-bellied Parrot They nest along the margins of forests of the coastal plains and feeds on land covered with reeds of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area Southwest of Tasmania, Australia, between Macquarie Harbour and Port Davey.

They migrate across Islands in the West of the bass strait (mainly King Island) towards the coast South of Australia, to Hibernate from the months of March to July, mainly along the coasts of the Bahía Port Phillip, Victoria (largest number of birds in Point Wilson and Swan Island, including the Queenscliffe Golf Course). They also overwinter in small numbers., from Gippsland, Victoria, to the West of the Coorong, Southern Australia. Occasionally occur during winter in areas of Tasmania and surrounding islands, as well as other individuals spend the summer on the mainland.

Every summer around 40 couples are reproduced, and an analysis of nine nests showed an average offspring of 1,7 pups per pair. The post-breeding population increased by about 50 individuals, of around 170 birds, but the population is becoming increasingly smaller, which suggests a high annual mortality. Adults begin to leave the breeding area in February and fly across the coast of Tasmania, crossing the bass strait, mainly through King Island (also records in the Hunter Croup) towards the coast of the Southeast of Australia (young birds usually travel a month later).

The Orange-bellied Parrot They tend to move around the continent, and are in the South of Australia at the end of winter. They return to breed in the months of September and October, they usually travel directly back to their breeding grounds. Since 1979 to 1990, the wintering population has remained relatively stable, with a count of 67 to 126 individuals registered every year (with a maximum of 50% of the world's population known with presence in Point Wilson).

In the last century the species flying in flocks of thousands of individuals (and raised as far East as Sydney up to approximately 1907). Wintering habitat loss and capture for the bird trade are cited as factors in its decline.

Possible winter habitat loss remains a threat, as does competition from introduced herbivores, the disturbance, and the possibility of exploration and exploitation of minerals. A detailed recovery plan includes the management of winter habitat with the exclusion of grazing animals, the diversion of economic activity and the development of Murtcaim Wildlife Management Area about Point Wilson. Captive-bred birds have been released and mixed with wild individuals.

• Current category of the Red List of the UICN: Critically Endangered

• Population Trend: Decreasing

The Orange-bellied Parrot It has a very low population size. This very low population size is even more significant, given that the species migrates through of the Bass Strait, with which this species is subjected to the additional risk by stormy phenomena on their migratory journey.

Has a restricted geographic range when breeding, and apparently a limited supply of food during migration and winter.

The species is found in a single population of between 100 and 150 mature individuals. Habitat loss, fragmentation and modification, particularly on the migration route and in the wintering areas, they are the key threats to the survival of the species.

For a small population, stochastic factors, as the disease, storms during the migratory species, and the destruction of nests by forest fires have the potential to reduce the survival of the species in the long term.

The Orange-bellied Parrot It has a restricted geographical distribution which is precarious for its survival.

The Scientific Committee of Threatened Species considers that the Orange-bellied Parrot has suffered a historic decline since European colonization. It is considered, In addition, that the recent recovery actions that have been implemented are having a beneficial impact on the species and the possibility of future stability in the reproduction sites is becoming apparent. But, as the population of the Orange-bellied Parrot is so low, the data that we have are based on a small area of occupancy and it is likely that this species continue suffering from a series of threats in course, with what the Committee may not be sufficiently secure that available information indicate that the population is stable and safe.

Future declines in population are still likely as a result of potential threats, especially the stochastic and genetic threats to small populations are likely and that can lead to the extinction.

The Orange-bellied Parrot is very rare in captivity and is, probably, more present in the hands of European collections. There are also some captive birds by some fans in Australia, to the South of the continent.

Fifteen years ago in South Australia, under expert supervision, were built cages with the aim of raising these birds and avoid that the Orange-bellied Parrot disappeared completely. In the early years, most of the young people died from diseases of the beak and feathers (PBFD), a viral disease (virus BFD). Similarly, cold winters in this region, where was launched the project, they had a negative effect on the end result.

Once the aviaries were displaced to areas more temperate and increased its amount, the result is improved and each year dozens of parrots have been released into the wild.

The Orange-bellied Parrot they are birds calm, peaceful and little noisy. They belong to the less active within the genre of the kind Neophema, so tend to the Obesity. These birds spend much time ashore. Usually, bathe once a day, in long baths. Reproduce well in captivity. They are exceptionally susceptible to various infections, including the intestinal parasites. These birds also, often, they die without apparent reason.

– Orange-bellied Parrot, Grass Parakeet, Orange bellied Parrot, Orange-bellied Grass-Parakeet, orange-bellied parakeet, Orange-breasted Grass-Parakeet, Orange-breasted Parrot, Purple-banded Parrot, Yellow-bellied Parrot (ingles).
– Perruche à ventre orange, Perruche à poitrine orange (French).
– Goldbauchsittich (German).
– Periquito-de-barriga-laranja (Portuguese).
– Papagayo de Vientre Naranja, Periquito Ventrinaranja (español).

– Order: Psittaciformes
– Family: Psittaculidae
– Genus: Neophema
– Scientific name: Neophema chrysogaster
– Citation: (Latham, 1790)
– Protonimo: Psittacus chrysogaster

«Orange-bellied Parakeet» (Neophema chrysogaster)

Sources:

• Sounds: Patrik Åberg (Xeno-canto)