Rock parrot

Rock parrot
At Cape Leeuwin, Western Australia
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Psittaciformes
Family:	Psittaculidae
Genus:	Neophema
Species:	N. petrophila
Binomial name
Neophema petrophila (Gould, 1841)

The rock parrot (Neophema petrophila), also known as the rock elegant, is a parrot which is endemic to coastal South Australia, southern Western Australia, and that continent's offshore islands, including Rottnest Island. It is a small, predominantly olive-green parrot. Grass seeds form the bulk of its diet.

Taxonomy

The rock parrot was described by ornithologist John Gould in 1841, its specific name petrophila derived from the Greek petros/πετρος 'rock' and philos/φιλος 'loving'.

Description

The rock parrot is 22 cm (9 in) long and predominantly olive-brown in colour with a dark blue frontal band line above with lighter blue. The lores and parts of the cheek are pale blue, this is less extensive in females. The breast is olive-grey, and duller in females, while abdomen and vent are yellow. The wings are predominantly olive with outer flight feathers blue. The yellow-edged tail has shades of olive and blue. The bill and legs are grey and the eyes dark brown. Juveniles are duller and lack the frontal bands.

Distribution and habitat

Rocky islands and coastal dune areas are the preferred habitats for this species, which is found from Robe, South Australia westwards across coastal South and Western Australia to Shark Bay.

Behaviour

Rock parrots eat seeds of grasses, shrubs and succulent plants, such as Carpobrotus species, in coastal habitats. They can be approached easily while feeding.

References

• Lendon AH (1980). Australian Parrots in Field and Aviary. Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0-207-12424-8.