Parrots of the Interior

Budgerigar (Melopsittacus Undulatus)

Budgerigars are popular worldwide as domestic cage birds. Many people fail to realize that the 'budgie' as it is affectionately known, is an inhabitant of Australia's arid interior.  Its natural color in the wild is green, however, domestic colors vary from blue and yellow and even albino.

Flocks numbering tens of thousands are not uncommon sight, particularly at a waterhole.

Princess Parrot (Polytelis Alexandrae)

One of Australia's most beautiful parrots, this arid zone dweller will go to extraordinary lengths to camouflage itself. When disturbed, it will lay lengthwise along a branch in a lizard-like fashion to avoid detection.

Rarely observed in its natural state, durations of 20 years between one sighting and the next are uncommon.

Cloncurry Parrot (Barnardius Zonarius Macgillivrayi)

One of the four races of Ringmeck Parrot, this subspecies is of limited and isolation distribution.

Its subtle colors and broad neck band make it an attractive species, highly prized by aviculturists the world over. Its naturally rare status and restricted home range are compounded by the extra burden of illegal trapping which can be quite devastating on wild population numbers.

Scarlet-chested Parrot (Neophema Splendida)

Splendida, the species name of theis parrot is an apt description of its beautiful appearance.

Populations are subject to 'boom and bust' cycles, increasing during the good seasons and crashing during the droughts.

In their arid habitat, water is obtained by drinking morning dew from leaf surfaces.