Bourke's Parrot

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Bourke's Parrot
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae Subfamily: Platycercinae Tribe: Neophemini Genus: Neopsephotus Mathews, 1912 Species: N. bourkii
Binomial name
Neopsephotus bourkii (Gould, 1841)

The Bourke's Parrot (Neopsephotus bourkii), also known as the Bourke's Parakeet or "Bourkie", is a small parrot originating in Australia and the only species in its genus Neopsephotus. This species is sometimes placed in the genus Neophema and there is an ongoing discussion about the proper taxonomic placement of this species. It is a grass parrot approximately 19 cm long and weighing around 35 grams.

In the wild, a Bourke Parrot has a red breast and a gray body with some blue. The legs are grey, with zygodactyl toes. The bill is yellowish-brown. Adult males have blue foreheads.

This bird is named after General Sir Richard Bourke, Governor of New South Wales from 1831 to 1837.

[edit] References

• BirdLife International (2004). Neopsephotus bourkii. 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