Red rumps

One of the most beautiful parrots in the district is the Red-rumped Parrot or Grass Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus) (from the Greek haima meaning blood and noton meaning back). The male bird (pictured left) is mainly emerald green in colour with a bright red rump which is very visible when it is flying away. The female’s feathers are a more sedate olive in colour (pictured below).

Red-rumps are open country birds and are ground foragers, feeding primarily on grass seeds. Clearing of land for agriculture has extended the range over which they live. They are particularly well camouflaged on the ground which means your first sight of them is usually as a group of red bottoms flying away into the distance.

However the other day I noticed ahead of me the head of a male parrot just over a slight rise – and he didn’t see me. After a few minutes of slithering across the ground on my stomach I was rewarded with the sight of several pairs quietly feeding on grass seeds – a great day for me and no doubt a talking point for any neighbours who may have been watching.