Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Superb Parrot (Polytelis swainsonii), male
Superb Parrot, Male

Superb Parrot

Polytelis swainsonii

The Superb Parrot, a medium-sized bird of approximately 40 cm in length, is adorned with a predominantly bright green plumage and darker flight feathers. Its long, pointed tail adds to its elegant appearance. The male of the species boasts a continuous yellow forehead and throat, complemented by a striking red band across the throat's border.

Identification Tips

To identify the Superb Parrot, look for the male's scarlet band on the upper chest and bright yellow face and throat. The female, on the other hand, can be distinguished by her pale blue-green face, greyish-green throat, and russet-pink tinged fore-throat. Juveniles resemble females but have brown irises and lack the full coloration of adults.

Habitat

This parrot favors the dry woodlands of New South Wales and Victoria, thriving in the sclerophyll forests that characterize these regions.

Distribution

The Superb Parrot is an Australian endemic, with a wild population of at least 10,000 individuals. It is confined to the southeastern parts of the continent.

Behaviour

Superb Parrots are known to nest in hollow limbs or tree holes. During the breeding season, males may forage alone in small flocks, while females are often nearby as they may nest in loose colonies of up to six pairs. Their diet is primarily composed of eucalypt flowers, fruits, nectar, pollen, and seeds, particularly favoring the offerings of the Yellow Box tree.

Conservation status

Internationally, the Superb Parrot was once considered Vulnerable due to habitat loss and a limited range. However, it has been downlisted to Least Concern as of 2012. In Australia, the species is listed as vulnerable, with varying conservation statuses across different states.

Threatening processes

The Superb Parrot has faced significant threats, including habitat destruction due to timber logging, which has destroyed a substantial portion of its nesting colonies. Additionally, there have been incidents of parrots being hit by cars, likely after becoming incapacitated from consuming spilled grain.

Similar Species

The Superb Parrot's closest relative is the Regent Parrot, which shares some similarities in appearance but can be differentiated by its coloration and habitat preferences.

Diet and Feeding

The Superb Parrot's diet consists mainly of eucalypt flowers, fruits, nectar, and pollen. It also consumes seeds and the green heads of the Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora), which provide a substantial portion of its nutritional needs.

Breeding

Breeding Superb Parrots may nest in loose colonies, with females staying in proximity to each other. They utilize hollows in trees as nesting sites, where they lay their eggs and raise their young.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Superb Parrots on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Old World Parrots

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Foxgirl100
Great app for beginner twitchers
I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
Ellesse_W
Learning Birding with Birda
I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! ðŸĶ
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
Sacha0508
Simply fantastic
I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.
Madstherangers
A mordern game changer
Birda is an awesome app, its updated the world of birding to the modern day with a fun and easy to use app. It’s engaging and allows positive interaction with fellow bird lovers!
Nedz53
Really useful
Downloaded to give it a try, everything worked perfectly, recorded my first bird watching walk. Very impressed. Have already recommended to friends!
Amylia S
Best app for any birding person!
I love this app!! I am so addicted to it when I saw it had 3 star review I was so sad! The app is awesome!! The best app for any birding person! âĪïļ
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright ÂĐ 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.