Neophema Parrots :

A page for nerds like me ….

This page is for the Neophema Parrots. I have photographed all 6 species plus the Bourke’s Parrot which was in this family but was recently re-classified into its own genus.

Overview

  • Genus: Neophema

  • Origin: Australia

  • Size: Small — typically 19–24 cm in length

  • Habitat: Grasslands, scrublands, open woodlands, and coastal heathlands

The 7 Species

  • Bourke's Parrot (Neopsephotus bourkii) — soft pink and brown tones; often grouped with Neophema

  • Turquoise Parrot (N. pulchella) — striking turquoise-blue face and wings

  • Scarlet-chested Parrot (Neophema splendida) — vivid scarlet breast; one of Australia's most colourful

  • Blue-winged Parrot (N. chrysostoma) — olive-green body with blue wing patches

  • Elegant Parrot (N. elegans) — yellow-olive with blue facial markings

  • Rock Parrot (N. petrophila) — dull olive-green; coastal and island dweller

  • Orange-bellied Parrot (N. chrysogaster) — critically endangered; bright orange belly patch

Bourke’s Parrot

I took this photo on Nallan Station north of Cue WA at a cattle watering bore. These parrots are common in their range but hard to spot. They are desert mulga dwellers.

Turquoise Parrot

This photo was taken in a friends back yard in Wangaratta Victoria. A group of five birds were sitting on a shed and flew down into the garden shrubs. I scrabbled to grab my camera, scaring off four of them before getting one shot of this male
before it took off.

Scarlet Chested Parrot

Scarlets are desert nomads and rarely seen. This pair was at a permanent rock hole north east of Laverton WA. I had seen Bourke’s and Mulga Parrots earlier that morning and was not expecting them at the rock hole where I had set up a tent hide. They came into drink and were gone in less that a minute after they were scared off by Cockatiels.
Once in a life time shot.

Blue Winged Parrot

On my trip to Victoria looking for Orange Bellied parrots I was shocked when these two landed ten metres in front of me overlooking Lake Connewarre. I was so excited to see them for the first time that I tripped over a log in front of me and they flew off , laughing I’m sure. Luckily , one perfect shot.

Elegant Parrot

This shot was taken on the beach in Albany in front of the Emu Point golf course. Often mistaken for Rock Parrots as these parrots are normally a forest bird. This group have adapted to feeding on beach dune cabbage , possibly after watching rock parrots feed there.

Rock Parrot

Rock parrots, I found hard to find. I found this group of about nine birds in Hamlin Bay SW WA. They nest on Hamlin Island and feed on the beach on dune cabbage in front of the caravan park. I was horrified a year later to find that beach and the dune cabbage destroyed by dickhead bogans and their 4WDs. Not the best photo as it was very low light.

My Prize Photo

Orange Bellied Parrot

On the forth day looking for them, I got this shot near Queenscliff. Estimates put their numbers at less than 100 birds. They migrate to Tassie each year. Why this is an evolutionary advantage I don’t know. Maybe its not , just a dead end and maybe why they are on the verge of extinction.
How I got this shot I don’t know. Just as well I got image stabilizers in my camara and lens as I was shaking with excitement. There were several in the group feeding on grass lawn in a park next to the beach before I scared them into bushes a few metres away. I only shot this one before they were gone.