Lathamus discolor

Swift parrot(Lathamus discolor)

Phylumchordata
Class — aves
Order — psittaciformes
Family — psittaculidae

Genus – lathamus

Appearance

The Swift parrot is about 25 centimetres (9.8 in) long and has long pointed wings and long tapering tail feathers. It is mainly green with bluish crown and red on the face above and below the beak. The adult female is slightly duller, and the juvenile has a dark brown iris and a pale orange bill.

Habitat

The Swift parrot is endemic to south-eastern Australia, breeding in Tasmania. It is found mainly in southern and central Victoria in winter and also in eastern New South Wales.

Behavior

While on the mainland, Swift parrots are nomadic, spending weeks or months at some sites and only a few hours at others, determined by the supply of nectar. During dry years, when the eucalypts’ flowering is poor, Swift parrots are forced to travel far and wide to find sufficient food, and may congregate into large flocks at sites where it is available.

Diet

Swift parrots feed in the outer canopy of flowering eucalypts, eating mainly nectar, as well as some psyllids and lerps, seeds and flowers. They are active and agile when feeding, often hanging upside down.

Reproduction

The species breeds in Tasmania from September to December. It nests in tree hollows about 6–20 meters from ground level and usually with other breeding pairs. Eggs are white with 3–5 per clutch.

In captivity

The Swift parrot has a lifespan of about 15 years.

You can keep these birds both in large aviaries and in small cages. But when they are kept in cages, these active parrots must be released daily to fly around the room.

In captivity, their main diet is nectar and granulated food for parrots, which can be supplemented with fruit (apple, pear, orange, berries, etc.), branches of fruit trees (preferably with buds), fresh (non-poisonous) flowers, as well as feed mixtures of seeds for parrots.

 

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