Swift Parrot
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| Swift Parrot | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Lathamus discolor (White, J., 1790) |
The Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) breeds in Tasmania and migrates north to south eastern Australia from Griffith-Warialda in Queensland and west to Adelaide in the winter. It is related to the rosellas, with the feeding habits of a lorikeet. It is the only member in the genus Lathamus.
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[edit] Breeding and social habits
The species breeds in Tasmania during September-December, in tree hollows 6–20 metres high and usually with other breeding pairs. Eggs are round and white with 3–5 per laying. It disperses to the mainland during April-September, being found as far north as south-eastern Queensland and as far west as Adelaide although recent sightings in SA have been restricted to the Eastern part of the state.
It is thought that only 1000 pairs remain in the wild. Habitat destruction and loss of old trees with nesting hollows is the critical factor in its decline.
Colour is mild green with bluish crown, bronze mantle, tip of wings brown, tail red, a bit like the Musk Lorikeet.
Voice is of high pitched tinking chattering, piping pee-pit, pee-pit.
[edit] Habitat
Usually inhabiting: forests, woodlands, agricultural land and plantations, and also in urban areas.
[edit] Diet
Seeds and grains, green vegetation, fruit, nectar and pollen, insects and larvae.
[edit] Conservation Status
[edit] Australia
Swift Parrots are listed as endangered on the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
[edit] State of Victoria, Australia
- The Swift Parrot is listed as threatened on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988).[1] Under this Act, an Action Statement for the recovery and future management of this species has been prepared.[2]
- On the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria, the Swift Parrot is listed as endangered.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria
- ^ Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria
- ^ Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (2007). Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria - 2007. East Melbourne, Victoria: Department of Sustainability and Environment, 15. ISBN 978-1-74208-039-0.
- BirdLife International (2006). Lathamus discolor. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map, a brief justification of why this species is endangered, and the criteria used
- Field guide to the birds of Australia Graham Pizzey and Frank Knight, Angus & Robertson 1997, 3rd edition 2000. ISBN 0-207-19714-8
- BirdLife Species Factsheet
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