Hooded Parrot

The Hooded Parrot, Psephotellus dissimilis, presents a striking figure with the male showcasing a black head and a yellow patch on its wings, while the female dons a more subdued grey-brown head with pink undertail coverts. This medium-sized parrot measures up to 26 cm in length and weighs between 50 to 60 grams. The male's plumage is a tapestry of colors with turquoise blue lower parts, a brown back, and an olive green tail tipped in pale blue. The female, on the other hand, is cloaked in a dull green with less vibrant coloration than her male counterpart.

Identification Tips

To distinguish the male Hooded Parrot from the similar Golden-shouldered Parrot, note the absence of a pale frontal band, a larger yellow patch on the wings, and no red on the abdomen. The female Hooded Parrot can be identified by the same absence of a pale frontal band and red on the abdomen, which differentiates her from the female Yellow-shouldered Parrot.

Habitat

The Hooded Parrot is an Australian endemic, favoring the semi-arid savannahs and open woodlands of northeast Northern Territory.

Distribution

Separated from its cousin, the Golden-shouldered Parrot, by the Carpentarian faunal barrier, the Hooded Parrot has seen a decline from much of its original range but remains common within protected areas.

Behaviour

This species is known to excavate nesting cavities in termite mounds, a process that can take around three weeks. The Hooded Parrot's diet is primarily composed of seeds, berries, and vegetables. Breeding occurs once or twice a year, typically between April and August.

Breeding

During the breeding season, the female lays a clutch of four or five white, slightly shiny eggs, each measuring 21 mm by 19 mm. The nest, located within termite mounds, provides a unique ecological niche for the species.

Similar Species

The Hooded Parrot is often compared to the Golden-shouldered Parrot and the Yellow-shouldered Parrot, with key differences in the frontal band and coloration aiding in identification.

Diet and Feeding

Seeds, berries, and vegetables make up the bulk of the Hooded Parrot's diet.

Conservation status

The Hooded Parrot is currently evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. However, its nesting sites are threatened by cattle damage in breeding areas, and there have been instances of mortality due to environmental contamination.