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Superb parrot, orBarraband's parrot, orBarraband's parakeet, or Green leek parrot(Polytelis swainsonii)
Phylum —chordata
Class — aves
Order — psittaciformes
Family — psittaculidae
Genus – polytelis
Appearance
The Superb parrot is medium-sized, bright green, approximately 40 cm (16 in) long, and has long tail feathers, a yellow-green neck, and yellow-orange irises. The adult male has a scarlet band on its upper chest and a bright yellow face and throat. The adult female has a pale blue-green face, greyish-green throat, a variable tinged russet-pink fore-throat, and orange thighs. Juveniles have brown irises and otherwise resemble females. The male has adult colored plumage at the age of about one year.
Habitat
An Australian endemic, the Superb parrot is restricted to the dry (sclerophyll) woodlands of New South Wales and Victoria.
Behavior
The brightly colored Superb parrot has dual habitat requirements. Though it usually nests in tree hollows in forests or woodlands of River Red Gums along inland rivers, it forages elsewhere, on the adjacent riverine plains dominated by Black Box trees, gathering in flocks to feed on seeds, which are mainly taken from the ground. Each day they fly regularly between their breeding and feeding habitats. Sometimes, during the breeding season, males may congregate into spectacular, swiftly flying flocks which may comprise 30 birds or more.
Diet
Superb parrots feed mainly on the ground, and sometimes in the foliage of trees. They eat the seeds of grasses and plants, fruits and berries, nectar, flowers and some insects.
Reproduction
Superb parrots nest in deep hollows or hollow limbs, in large trees along watercourses, usually in River Red Gums. The eggs are laid in wood dust at the bottom of the hollow. The female alone incubates and is fed by the male while on the eggs and when the young are very small. Then both parents feed the young.
In captivity
The Superb parrot has a lifespan of about 15-25 years.
Superb parrots are very quiet in an aviary, with an endearingly friendly and gentle personality. They are highly social and should be kept with a mate or in a group environment. They acclimatize fairly easily to a new environment and are very hardy.
The Superb parrots should be kept in a roomy aviary that allows them to fly.
Captive Superb parrots should be provided with a balanced diet of grains, seeds, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables.
