Blue Bonnet

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This article is about Blue Bonnet parrot.

For other uses of "Bluebonnet", see Bluebonnet (disambiguation).

Blue Bonnet
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Subfamily: Platycercinae Tribe: Platycercini Genus: Northiella Mathews, 1912 Species: N. haematogaster
Binomial name
Northiella haematogaster (Gould, 1838)

The Blue Bonnet (Northiella haematogaster) is an Australian parrot, the only member of the genus Northiella. Its habitat includes open woodland, scrub, riverine forest, spinifex, and farmlands in the eastern half of the continent, with a smaller race being found in the Western Australian Nullarbor region.

This species grows up to 27-35cm in length and the sexes are similar in appearance. The are usually seen in pairs or small groups feeding along roads. They breed between July and December producing 4 to 7 white eggs.

It is a common species in the wild though not so in captivity due to its duller colouring and pugnacious behaviour.

The genus name commemorates the Australian ornithologist Alfred John North.

[edit] References

• BirdLife International (2004). Northiella haematogaster. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern