Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Eastern Bluebonnet

Northiella haematogaster

The Eastern Bluebonnet, or Northiella haematogaster, is a medium-sized Australian parrot with a distinctive crest-like arrangement of head feathers. Exhibiting a mostly olive-grey to brown upper body, this bird is adorned with dark blue on the outer wing and leading edge when the wing is folded. A blue forehead and face complement the pearl grey bill, light grey cere, brown-grey iris, and dark grey feet and legs. Males typically range from 28 to 35 cm in body length, while females are slightly smaller at 26 to 32 cm. The wingspan follows suit, with males spanning 36 to 42 cm and females 34 to 38 cm. Weighing in at 70 to 100 grams, these parrots maintain their plumage throughout the year without seasonal variation.

Identification Tips

To identify the Eastern Bluebonnet, look for the blue carpal patch on the wing and the varying amounts of red on the underbody, which differ among subspecies. The red-vented bluebonnet, for instance, has extensive red on the undertail coverts, while the yellow-vented variety has a yellowish-olive wing patch. The pallid bluebonnet is paler overall, with less contrast between the breast and the pale yellow underbelly. Females are slightly duller with less red on the belly and may have an off-white band on the underside of the primaries. Juveniles resemble adult females but have a brownish-orange bill that turns pearl-grey within two months of fledging.

Habitat

The Eastern Bluebonnet thrives in arid and semi-arid zones, favoring open woodlands with a variety of native trees and shrubs, including false sandalwood, belah, native pine, western myall, gidgee, mulga, and eucalyptus. They are also found in open grassy plains, scrublands, and along watercourses, with mallee patches in northern Victoria serving as important habitat for southern populations.

Distribution

This parrot species is indigenous to the interior regions of southeastern and central-southern Australia, with a range extending from northern Victoria to southern Queensland in the east, and reaching southeastern Western Australia in the west.

Behaviour

Eastern Bluebonnets are typically seen in pairs or small groups of fewer than ten individuals. They exhibit a strong pair bond, separating only to breed in late winter and rejoining the flock with their offspring in late spring. When disturbed, they take flight with a distinctive call, seeking refuge in nearby trees where they remain silent and vigilant.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of the Eastern Bluebonnet includes a harsh 'chack chack', a melodic 'cloote', and a loud 'yak-yak-yak', which can be heard when the bird is flushed from the ground.

Breeding

Breeding season generally spans from August to January, with the male performing a courtship display involving crest-raising, neck-stretching, wing-vibrating, and tail-fanning. Nesting occurs in tree hollows, where 4 to 7 white eggs are laid. The female incubates the eggs for about 19 days, with the male providing food. Chicks fledge at around 30 days old and are independent approximately 12 days later.

Similar Species

There are no similar species that could be easily confused with the Eastern Bluebonnet, given its unique plumage and coloration.

Diet and Feeding

The diet consists of seeds from native and introduced grasses, herbaceous plants, trees, shrubs, as well as fruit, berries, vegetable matter, flowers, nectar, insects, and their larvae. In arid regions, they also consume seeds and fruit from saltbush. These birds typically drink at dawn and dusk, approaching water with caution.

Conservation status

The Eastern Bluebonnet is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a stable population without significant threats to its survival.

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

Eastern Bluebonnets on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Old World Parrots

A photo of a Fischer's Lovebird (Agapornis fischeri)

Fischer's Lovebird

Agapornis fischeri
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
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
Louise L
Easy to use and accurate
Love this app. It is easy to use and accurate, Their backup communication is really good. I noted a missing species. All through the process, I was kept informed about the progress in correcting the information. I now have the corrected, updated version. 😁 Thanks!
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
EandB17
Terrific App for Birders
Downloaded Birda around the time my interest in birding was sparked, and it has been a terrific app to help me (1) share my experience, (2) document my sightings, and (3) learn more about birds in general. That said, I also believe Birda is a fantastic app for birders of all experience levels. Great community!
Alice J
Awesome Birding Community
I absolutely love the community aspect of this app. The app is so user friendly and has fun interactive challenges to get you out birding. I’ve tried others but since I’ve started using Birda I’ve not gone back!
Jane N
A great app
Enjoying it immensely and finding it useful too. Recording the different birds and counting them is showing me how the present climate is affecting them all. I've trebled the numbers by planting native hedging. A great app.
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
Alex J
Friendly and helps to identify birds
Great birding app, good for logging your sightings, also has nice species guide. I'm enjoying the social aspect more than I expected, everyone seems friendly and helps to identify unknown birds. Good mix of newbies and experienced users.
Carl B
Helped me to identify more birds
Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright ÂĐ 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.