Aprosmictus erythropterus
Colourization Adult: A.e. erythropterus: male-body colour bright green, with blue tint on hindcrown and occiput; black mantle, upper back and scapulars; deep blue on lower back, turning to paler blue on rump; bright red lesser, median and inner secondary wing coverts; black outer secondary coverts tipped with green; green tail tipped with yellow. Bill orange/red tipped with paler orange/red. Eye orange/red. Female- green of body is duller; dull green mantle, upper back and scapulars; dull blue lower back and rump; dull red outer, median and inner secondary wing coverts; black outer secondary coverts tipped with green; side tail feathers margined with red/pink on inner webs. Bill dull orange tipped with brown. Eye brown/orange. A.e. coccineopterus: male-differs from erythropterus in that there is stronger suffusion of blue on hindcrown and occiput; slightly paler red of upper wing coverts; slightly smaller in size. Female-as in erythropterus, but dull green of wings and upper back more yellow. Slightly smaller in size. Colourization Juvenile: A.e. erythropterus: as in adult female, but in males black bases to secondaries form band at bottom edge of upper wing coverts, and yellow/green margins to secondary coverts give scalloped appearance. Bill orange/yellow. Eye pale brown. Call: Calls given in flight or soon after landing are sharp notes; when alarmed a repetitious, harsh chikking noise. While feeding emits soft, melodious chattering.
Not Threatened.
Colourization Adult: A.e. erythropterus: male-body colour bright green, with blue tint on hindcrown and occiput; black mantle, upper back and scapulars; deep blue on lower back, turning to paler blue on rump; bright red lesser, median and inner secondary wing coverts; black outer secondary coverts tipped with green; green tail tipped with yellow. Bill orange/red tipped with paler orange/red. Eye orange/red. Female- green of body is duller; dull green mantle, upper back and scapulars; dull blue lower back and rump; dull red outer, median and inner secondary wing coverts; black outer secondary coverts tipped with green; side tail feathers margined with red/pink on inner webs. Bill dull orange tipped with brown. Eye brown/orange. A.e. coccineopterus: male-differs from erythropterus in that there is stronger suffusion of blue on hindcrown and occiput; slightly paler red of upper wing coverts; slightly smaller in size. Female-as in erythropterus, but dull green of wings and upper back more yellow. Slightly smaller in size. Colourization Juvenile: A.e. erythropterus: as in adult female, but in males black bases to secondaries form band at bottom edge of upper wing coverts, and yellow/green margins to secondary coverts give scalloped appearance. Bill orange/yellow. Eye pale brown. Call: Calls given in flight or soon after landing are sharp notes; when alarmed a repetitious, harsh chikking noise. While feeding emits soft, melodious chattering.
Taxonomy:
- Psittacus erythropterus J. F. Gmelin, 1788, Cooktown, northern Queensland. Forms a superspecies with A. jonquillaceus. Two subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- * coccineopterus (Gould, 1865) - S New Guinea and N Australia. * erythropterus (J. F. Gmelin, 1788) - interior E Australia.
Found up to 600m in subtropical and semi-arid eucalypt and casuarina woodland, forest edge, riverine woodland, acacia scrub, mangrove, farmland, cypress pine, Callitris sp. scrub and lowland savanna.
Feeds on seeds, fruit, flowers, and insects; in mangroves mistletoe is preferred
April or May in the north; further south August-February.3-6 rounded eggs, 31.0 x 26.0mm. Is nomadic at edges of range, but considered to be resident elsewhere. Is usually seen in small groups of up to 15 individuals; the largest groups seen at the end of the breeding season when families gather at feeding areas. Conspicuous and common.