Superb Parrot

Superb Parakeet, also called Barraband's Parakeet, (Polytelis swainsonii) is a parrot native to southeastern Australia. It is one of three species in the genus Polytelis.

Description

It is a medium-sized bright green parrot, approximately 40 cm (16 in) long, with long tail feathers, yellow-green below and yellow eye. The adult male has a scarlet band upper chest, bright yellow face and throat. The adult female has a pale blue-green face, greyish-green throat and yellow thighs.

An Australian endemic, the Superb Parrot is restricted to the woodlands of New South Wales and Victoria. It nests on hollow limb or a hole in a tree. The diet consists mainly of eucalypt flowers, fruits, nectar and pollen.

Conservation Status

International

Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size and limited range, the Superb Parrot is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.

Australia

Superb Parrots are listed as vulnerable on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Their conservation status also varies from state to state within Australia. For example:

• The Superb Parrot is listed as threatened on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988). Under this Act, an Action Statement for the recovery and future management of this species has been prepared.

Threatening processes

During February-June 2005, "accidental" logging in the Barmah State Forest destroyed 60 per cent of the nesting colonies of the Superb Parrot (6000 tonnes of river red gums): with fewer than 150 breeding in Victoria this has severely compromised their chances of survival .

References

• Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet
• IUCN Red List