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Rock Parrot
Neophema petrophila

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Rock Parrot

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Anatomy-parrots-eng

Description

22 cm. height and a weight between 47 and 54 g..

The male of the Rock Parrot (Neophema petrophila) has a band front of color blue dark that is surrounded by a small and striking edge blue marine. The blue becomes even a little bit behind the eye. The area between the eyes and ears, the region of the eye and the anterior part of the cheeks are Navy Blue. The upper part of the crown, the neck, the the mantle, the back, rump and covered wing are olive green. The cheeks, except the front edge, the region of the throat and the chest are olive-gray color. The belly, flanks, the thighs and anal region are opaque yellow.

The curvature of the wing and feathers of the median of the wings are Navy Blue. The flight feather are black with a dark blue marks.

The feathers of the uppertail-coverts are an olive green-brown color and the undertail yellow. The upper part of the feathers of the tail are matte blue streaked olive green. The bottom is dark gray. The irises the eye is dark brown, the bill is dark gray, the cere is brown, legs grayscale and nails dark grey.

The female: is very similar to the male, but its colors are more opaque, especially the blue. The frontal band is a little thinner.

The immature do not have the frontal band blue. The only decoration is a bare periophthalmic characteristic white.

2 subspecies

  • Neophema petrophila petrophila

    (Gould, 1841)


  • Neophema petrophila zietzi

    (Mathews, 1912)

Habitat:

The Rock Parrot they frequent the coastal dunes, mangroves, marshes, agricultural areas, lightly treed savanna, areas of mallee (Eucalytus slender), scrublands abound where the Salt plants (Atriplex). Also visit the coast, where small rivers flow into estuaries. They appreciate the plantations of casuarina and margins of brackish water bordering the coasts and rocky islets where nests are less susceptible to predation. Throughout the year, These birds do not deviate more than several hundred meters from the sea.

Large gatherings of the Rock Parrot, sometimes, There are land, When there is abundance of food. But, like most of Neophema, this parakeet can be hard to spot, and it will only be visible when you take flight due to some danger.

Their plumage is not anti-absorbente and often remains wet, which gives it a darker shade. They tend to use the same Burrows to the Pacific Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus), the 2 species sometimes have the same habits and the same mating rituals.

Reproduction:

The Rock Parrot reproduced from august to december, sometimes in February. Occasionally, There is a second litter.

The nest is placed in the crevice of a low cliff, on a facade or on some rocky ledge. Since relatively recently, they have come to nest on small islands of limestone, the entry hole is often hidden behind a curtain of vegetation.

Sometimes, abandoned Burrows of the Pacific Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) they are used as a nest by the Rock Parrot. In other cases, These parakeets usurp active nests of the Paíno Pechialbo (Pelagodroma marina).

Spawning contains 4 or 5 eggs and your incubation lasts a few 18 days. The chicks are altricial and stay in the nest during 30 days.

Food:

The Rock Parrot are, above all, vegetarian. They like to eat cultivated seeds, fruits and a variety of herbs. They also eat young shoots, shrubs and plants that are tolerant of saline environments.

Distribution:

Size of the area of distribution (reproduction / resident): 1.700.000 km2

There are two separate populations by the Great Australian Bight, which does not offer the suitable coastal islands for nesting.

The Eastern population extends from about Robe, Southern Australia, in the East, to Nuyts archipelago, approximately 133 °E in the west (although breeding records in Kangaioo Island, they have not been confirmed).

The Western population extends from Israelite Bay to archipelago of the Recherche.

In Western Australia, to the West around the Cabo Leeuwin and to the North of Shark Bay.

To the North of Perth the species nests in the continent, but in other parts, birds occupy the coastal islands, at least for breeding, also sometimes traveling from the Mainland to settle on the islands of the coast.

The population of the Rottnest Island on the coast of Perth suffered, in the past, illegal capture, but has grown rapidly in recent years.

The Rock Parrot they are considered common and partially nomadic residents throughout its area of distribution; so far, coastal islands have not been subjected to the same pressures of development than continental zones.

Conservation:


Status


• Current category of the Red List of the UICN: Least concern.

• Population Trend: Decreasing.

In accordance with Handbook of the Birds of the World, This species is not threatened at the global level. His surprising absence from the region of the Great Australian Bight It can be explained by the lack of sites available in which to nest. In these places, rocks are in fact very limited in number, so the nests bad are protected in the absence of rocks and crevices where they serve this species as a refuge against the attacks of predators. The Rock Parrot they prefer to nest on the islets off the coast, Surely in order not to deal with rats, foxes, cats, lizards, monitors and monitor lizards.

Its population is estimated above of the 20,000 individuals.

"Rock Parrot" in captivity:

The Rock Parrot they are extremely rare in captivity and is likely to be more present in the aviaries of Europe.

In Australia they are only in the hands of some fans.

These parrots are extremely slow, within the genus Neophema, is the least active, so these birds tend to the Obesity, which is very damaging for the fertility.

The Rock Parrot they are birds peaceful in the nature, that make noise. They are birds that they spend too much time on the ground and they bathe regularly. The first generations in captivity will be very susceptible to various infections, including, among others, intestinal parasites. These birds also regularly die without apparent reason.

Alternative names:

Rock Parrot, Rock Elegant, Rock Elegant-Parakeet, Rock Grass-Parakeet, Rock Parakeet, Western Rock-Parrot (ingles).
Perruche des rochers, Perruche pétrophile (French).
Klippensittich (German).
Periquito-da-rocha (Portuguese).
Papagayo de las Rocas, Periquito Roquero (español).

scientific classification:

John Gould
John Gould

Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittaculidae
Genus: Neophema
Scientific name: Neophema petrophila
Citation: (Gould, 1841)
Protonimo: Euphema petrophila

Images “Rock Parrot”:

Videos "Rock Parrot"

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“Rock Parrot” (Neophema petrophila)


Sources:

Avibase
– Parrots of the World – Forshaw Joseph M
– Parrots A Guide to the Parrots of the World – Tony Juniper & Mike Parr
Birdlife

Photos:

(1) – A Rock Parrot with grass seed in rain near Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, Cape Lioness, Western Australia, Australia By Cas Liber (CAs Liber) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
(2) – A Rock Parrot at Greens Pool, Western Australia, Australia By butupa (IMGP8254Uploaded by snowmanradio) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
(3) – Neophema petrophila rock parrot free wallpaper in free pet category – free-pet-wallpapers
(4) – Neophema petrophila free wallpaper in free pet category – free-pet-wallpapers
(5) – Grass Parrots {Neopherma} – myparrots

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