AUSTRALIAN SPECIALISTS!

 
Australian King, Blue Mountains Australia

KING PARROTS (Genus Alisterus)

    The genus Alisterus is the only genus we have described in these web pages that also occurs outside of Australia.  Three species make up this genus:  the Australian king parrot, the green-winged king parrot and the Amboina king parrot.  This group is similar to the shining parrots found in Fiji, but they have a smaller bill and longer wings.  Sexual dimorphism is slight in the Amboina king, pronounced in the Australian king and varied within the subspecies of the green-winged king (in one the sexes are quite different but in two others they are very similar).

    These beautiful birds are relatively large, very peaceful and quiet.  They have been known to make good pets.  The Australian king is reasonably available in the US but the green-winged king is very rare.  With perhaps one exception (the bluebonnet), it is the rarest bird we have maintained.

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