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Blue BonnetAlternate name(s): "Greater Blue Bonnet", "Crimson-bellied Parrot", "Yellow-vented Parakeet", "Bulloak Parrot", "Red-bellied Blue Bonnet", "Naretha Parrot", "Red-vented Blue Bonnet" ![]() Size: 27-34 cm Weight: 50-100 g |
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See Blue
Bonnet at Wikipedia |
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Photos |
Not the photos you want? Or are you after even better quality? Have a
look here .
Race "haematogaster"
This race is also called the "Yellow-vented Blue Bonnet".
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Frontal view of a male Blue Bonnet; the solid red on the belly
characterises the bird as a male; the all-yellow vent is specific
to race haematogaster
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]
Near-frontal and lateral view of two male Blue Bonnets perched in a
dead tree (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]
Near-dorsal view of a male Blue Bonnet
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]
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PAIR |
Near-lateral/ventral view of a pair of Blue Bonnets; male on
the left, female on the right
[Lake
Bindegolly NP, near Thargomindah, QLD, June 2019]
Lateral view of a pair of Blue Bonnets looking at the observer;
female on the left, male on the right
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lake Albacutya, VIC, October 2018]
Lateral view of a pair of Blue Bonnets perched on a fence;
female on the left, male on the right
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lake Albacutya, VIC, October 2018]
Lateral view of a pair of Blue Bonnets perched on a fence;
female on the left, male on the right
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Lake Albacutya, VIC, October 2018]
Sex unknown |
Near-dorsal view of a Blue Bonnet
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]
Dorsal view of a Blue Bonnet
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]
Race "haematorrhoa"
This race is also called the "Red-vented Blue Bonnet".
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Close-up lateral view of a male Blue Bonnet, race "haematorrhoa",
feeding on the ground; note the dark-red shoulder
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2022]
Close-up lateral/ventral view of a male Blue Bonnet
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, February 2023]
Ventral view of a male Blue Bonnet, with a clear view of the
richness of colours and patterns
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, 2006]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female Blue Bonnet - note the solid-red belly patch
[Near Bellata, NSW, November 2015]
Near-frontal view of a female Blue Bonnet - note the scalloped
red belly patch
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, July 2012]
Lateral view of a female(?) Blue Bonnet on the ground
(photo courtesy of C. Kellenberg)
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PAIR |
Frontal view of a pair of Blue Bonnets; male on the left,
female on the right
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
Close-up near-lateral/lateral view of a pair of Blue Bonnets; male on
the left, female on the right
[Near Wee Waa, NSW, May 2023]
Near-lateral view of two pairs of Blue Bonnets enjoying the
late afternoon sun in wintertime; males left and right, two
females in between
[Near Bellata, NSW, June 2009]
Lateral view of a pair of Blue Bonnets in a
White Cedar
tree in wintertime; male on the left
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, June 2006]
Lateral view of a pair of Blue Bonnets hiding in a dense shrub
[Pilliga Wetlands Walk, NSW, November 2019]
Lateral view of a pair of Blue Bonnets in-flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2015]
Sex unknown |
Dorsal view of a Blue Bonnet
[Bourke, NSW, September 2012]
Lateral view of a Blue Bonnet in-flight
[Eulah Creek, NSW, May 2015]
Dorsal view of 3 Blue Bonnets in flight
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2021]
Dorsal view of two Blue Bonnets on the point of landing in a tree
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Lateral view of a juvenile Blue Bonnet
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Aug - Dec | Eggs: 4 - 6 | Incubation period: 18 - 20 days | Fledging age: 28 - 35 days |
Nest building: ? | Incubation: Female | Dependent care: Female & male |
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Nest |
"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal] |
Type: Tree hollow | Material: ? | Height above ground: 2? - 6 m |
Pair of Blue Bonnets near a tree hollow that they inspected
for its suitability for nesting
[Pilliga Wetlands Walk, NSW, May 2020]
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Eggs |
"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay] |
Size: 23 x 19 mm | Colour: White | Shape: Rounded |
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Sedentary/dispersive | Elementary unit: Pair/small flock |
NB: Breeders report to us that Blue Bonnets do not mix well at all with other species of parrots in aviaries.
View of a bonding ritual
between a pair of Blue Bonnets: While incubating their eggs,
and not leaving the nest hollow, the female will rely on the
male to feed her - so beforehand she tests his reliability
as a provider of food
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]
View of a bonding ritual
between a pair of Blue Bonnets: While incubating their eggs,
and not leaving the nest hollow, the female will rely on the
male to feed her - so beforehand she tests his reliability
as a provider of food
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]
Blue Bonnets are the shiest parrots in our area that we have spotted so far. Being exclusively ground-feeding, they are vulnerable to attacks by predators.
Female Blue Bonnet perched in a
casuarina
tree, surveying its surroundings before going down to feed on a
paddock
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Maules Creek, NSW, April 2013]
Our observations in the Narrabri area suggest that Blue Bonnets live in small family units of up to about 10 birds; larger groups/flocks have been seen by us further inland.
Blue Bonnets on their roost
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]
Blue Bonnets sitting in the shade, in an
Acacia salicina
(photo courtesy of
V. Collins)
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2021]
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Food, Diet |
Adults: Seeds | Dependents: Regurgitated seeds | Water intake: Daily |
Like many parrots, Blue Bonnets are seed-eaters; primarily they feed on grass seeds, but they will not shun bigger seeds either, when available (see below).
Close-up lateral view of a male Blue Bonnet feeding on the
flowers of weeds
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2022]
Close-up dorsal view of a male Blue Bonnet stretching to
reach a flower head
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2022]
Blue Bonnet feeding on seeds
(photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Goschen Bush Reserve, VIC, September 2019]
Blue Bonnets feasting on sunflower kernels
[Near Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2011]
Family of Blue Bonnets making use of a submerged lawn for both
food and water
[Burren Junction Bore Bath, NSW, January 2020]
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
bluebon_20140226.mp3 |
haematorrhoa (NW NSW) |
Warning calls | © MD | |
bluebon_20150528.mp3 |
haematorrhoa (NW NSW) |
Warning/depart. (group of 4) | © MD | |
bluebon_20141119.mp3 |
haematorrhoa (NW NSW) |
Alarm/departure (pair) | © MD | |
bluebon_20141206.mp3 |
haematorrhoa (NW NSW) |
Squabbling | © MD | |
bluebon_20200114.m4a |
haematorrhoa (NW NSW) |
"Babbling"? (roosting in shrub) | © MD | |
bluebon_20200114_2.m4a |
haematorrhoa (NW NSW) |
"Babbling"? (roosting in shrub); some wind noise | © MD | |
bluebon_20230503.mp3 |
haematorrhoa (NW NSW) |
? | © MD |
More Blue Bonnet sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.