Neopsephotus
| Bourke's parrot | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittaculidae |
| Genus: |
Neopsephotus Mathews, 1912 |
| Species: | N. bourkii |
| Binomial name | |
|
Neopsephotus bourkii (Gould, 1841) |
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| Synonyms | |
|
Neophema bourkii |
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Neophema bourkii
The Bourke's parrot (Neopsephotus bourkii, formerly known as Neophema bourkii), also known as the blue-vented parrot, sundown parrot, pink-bellied parrot, Bourke's parakeet, Bourke 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 45 grams. It is named after General Sir Richard Bourke, Governor of New South Wales from 1831 to 1837.
The Bourke’s parrot is a relatively small species. They tend to vary between 18 cm and 23 cm in length with a tail length of approximately 9 cm. The females of the species tend to be slightly smaller than the males. The males of the species weigh between 47 g and 49 g whilst the females weigh between 41 g and 49 g. Young birds under nine months of age both male and female look very similar, after this they come into full plumage colour. Wildtype (natural coloured) Bourke's parakeet display a basically brown overall colouration with pink abdomen, pinkish breast and a blue rump. The legs are dark-brown, with zygodactyl toes. The bill is yellowish-brown. The adult male has a blue forehead while the adult female has a little or no blue on the forehead. The Bourke's parrot's feathers help the species blend in with the reddish soil of its home. There are four documented mutations found in captive Bourke’s parrots; yellow, Isabel, fallow and pink or rosa. The Bourke’s parrots call is rather frequent and sounds like a mellow ‘chu-vee’. Banding of this species requires a 4 mm band.
The Bourke’s parrot was originally classified within the genus of Neophema which fully consists of grass parakeets. However, in the mid-90s the Bourke’s was reclassified into and is the only member of the Neopsephotus genus. The reasoning behind this reclassification was because the Bourke’s parrot was unable to hybridize with any of the other Neophema species; they are different in colouration and live a nomadic lifestyle throughout the arid regions of Australia. The Bourke’s parrot is still however referred to as a type of grass parakeet.
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Wikipedia