Common name Australian king-parrot
Scientific name Alisterus scapularis
Type Aves (Bird)
Diet Omnivorous, but primarily feeds on fruits, seeds and nectar
Average lifespan Up to 25–30 years in captivity
Size 41–43cm

Conservation status: Not listed as a threatened species under the EPBC Act.

If you live on the east coast of Australia, you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of bright green and red feathers amongst your backyard treetops. Growing in abundance within well-treed suburbs, the strikingly colourful plumage belongs to the Australian king-parrot, a welcomed visitor that prefers to fly below tree level, weaving in and out of the tree trunks.

Australian king-parrots are sexually dimorphic; a male’s head is completely red, while a female’s is completely green. Both sexes have a green back and red belly.

A male Australian king-parrot. Image credit: shutterstock

Habitat
Rainforests and wet sclerophyll forests are the king-parrot’s preferred habitat, where they can forage in the trees for seeds and fruit. While it isn’t unusual to spot the bird in suburbia, if disturbed, they usually fly off quickly.

Distribution
The Australian king-parrot calls the east coast and ranges of Australia home. From as far north as Cooktown in Queensland, all the way down to Port Campbell in Victoria, these birds are usually seen in pairs small groups.

Male Australian king-parrots (left) have a completely red head, while the females (right) have a completely green head. Both have a red belly and a green back, wings, and tail. Image credit: shutterstock

Reproduction
During breeding season between September and January, a female lays her eggs on a bed of decayed wood dust, at the very bottom of a deep hollow in a tree trunk. The entrance to the tree can be as high as 10m in the air, with the eggs nestled deep within its trunk, about 0.5m off the ground. About five eggs are incubated for a period of 20 days. Fledglings typically leave the nest when they’re about 35 days old.

Occasionally bred in aviaries, king-parrots can be calm and friendly household pets if hand-raised. Unlike some of their more talkative relatives, the Australian king-parrot has a limited ‘talking’ ability and prefers not to be handled.

A female Australian king-parrot. Image credit: shutterstock

Threats
Habitat loss is the biggest threat to Australian king-parrots, especially the loss of hollow-bearing trees, which take centuries to form.

Fascinating fact
A king-parrot’s green wing feathers appear to have a yellow glow when viewed under ultraviolet light. Humans have three types of cones in their retina, but many birds – including king-parrots – have four, allowing them to see into the ultraviolet wavelengths.