AUSTRALIAN SPECIALISTS!

SCARLET-CHESTED PARROT (Neophema splendida)

    Our first pair of birds was of this species and to this day they remain one of our favorites!  In the wild they inhabit the interior, drier regions of Australia from far southwestern Queensland, western New South Wales and northwestern Victoria to southeastern Western Australia.  Typically the scarlet-chested parrot occurs in pairs during the nesting season and small groups during the off season.  They are an extremely quiet bird, spending much of their time on the ground and in low shrubs searching for seeds.  Since these birds have been seen far from water, it's thought they can get their moisture requirements from vegetation or dew.  There is some disagreement over whether this is a rare bird in the wild or if it is relatively abundant.  Certainly it is locally abundant in some areas and has been know to go through population explosions (or unusual aggregations) at times.  A particularly large influx of birds occurred around the town of Wyrnburg (southwestern South Austalia) in 1939.  Many specimens were collected for aviculture at that time and the birds we have in the US may be from that period.  It has been said that the entire US population of scarlet-chested parrots originated from a single shipment of a relatively small number of specimens in the early 1900's.  If anyone knows more about this we'd like to hear it!

    The male scarlet chested-parrot is a stunning combination of scarlet, violet blue, yellow and green (above).  The hen is a unobtrusive green with yellow belly.  Males begin to show adult plumage between 4 and 6 months of age.  Pairs in captivity are very peaceful and very quiet.  The male give a soft chirp, particularly during the nesting season from January to June.  Our pairs normally lay 4-6 eggs and we've had pairs triple clutch in a single season.  Scarlet-chested parrots are excellent parents.  This species makes an excellent mixed aviary bird, never bothering other birds. 

 Pricing

$250 per pair, $125 for singles.

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