The Blue-winged Parrot is a slender parrot with an olive-green head and upperbody. Its name comes from the large, dark blue patch on the wings. Blue-winged Parrots are most common in Tasmania, Victoria, and south-eastern South Australia, however, populations are in decline even in these regions. It is thought that the clearing of forests may have benefited this species in regard to feeding, but not in regard to breeding as potential nest sites are removed.
The Blue-winged Parrot is a slender parrot with an olive-green head and upper body, grading to light green on the fore-neck. The upper tail is green-blue, with yellow sides. The underparts are yellow, and there may be orange in the centre of the belly. A yellow facial patch extends back to the eye. A narrow, dark blue band runs from eye to eye across the forehead. The Blue-winged Parrot gets its name from the large, dark blue patch on the wings. The female is similar to the male but with slightly duller colours. Their average size is 21cm and the average weight is 55 grams.
The call of the Blue-winged Parrot is an extremely high, thin tinkling sound, followed by slow bursts. It sounds more like the highest squeaks of a thornbill or fairy-wren than a parrot. Bird call recorded by: Marc Anderson
The main populations of Blue-winged Parrots are in Tasmania and Victoria, particularly in southern Victoria and the midlands and eastern areas of Tasmania. Sparser populations are found in western New South Wales and eastern South Australia, extending to south-west Queensland and occasionally into the Northern Territory.
Habitat: Coastal, Wetland, Desert, Woodland, Urban, Grassland
The Blue-winged Parrot inhabits a range of habitats from coastal, sub-coastal and inland areas, right through to semi-arid zones. Throughout their range, they favour grasslands and grassy woodlands. They are often found near wetlands both near the coast and in semi-arid zones. Blue-winged Parrots can also be seen in altered environments such as airfields, golf courses and paddocks.
Many aspects of the movements of the Blue-winged Parrot are poorly understood. There is a definite passage of Blue-winged Parrots to and from Tasmania after breeding each year, leaving in March to April and returning in August to October. Some birds, however, over-winter in Tasmania or on the Bass Strait islands.
Pairs or small parties of Blue-winged Parrots forage mainly on the ground for seeds of grasses and herbaceous plants.
Blue-winged Parrots breed in Tasmania, coastal south-eastern South Australia and southern Victoria. They form monogamous pairs and make their nests in a tree hollow or stump, preferably one with a vertical opening. The eggs are laid on a bed of decayed wood. Their clutch size is 4 to 6 eggs. The female alone incubates the eggs (20 days), leaving the nest at intervals to be fed by the male, but both parents feed the nestlings, the nestling period is 35 days. Breeding season is from October to February.
