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Swift ParrotAlternate name(s): "Red-shouldered Parrot", "Swift-flying Parakeet", "Swift-flying Lorikeet" Size: 23-26 cm Weight: 45-75 g |
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Photos |
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ADULT |
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MALE |
Near-lateral view of a male(?) Swift Parrot
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dover, TAS, September 2021]
Near-lateral/ventral view of a male Swift Parrot
[30 km N of Coonabarabran, NSW, August 2022]
Lateral view of a male Swift Parrot
[30 km N of Coonabarabran, NSW, August 2022]
Lateral view of a male Swift Parrot - note the scarlet undertail coverts
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dover, TAS, September 2021]
Lateral view of a male Swift Parrot
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dover, TAS, September 2021]
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FEMALE |
Frontal view of a female Swift Parrot - note the salmon-pink
undertail coverts (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dover, TAS, September 2021]
Near-frontal view of a female Swift Parrot
[Chain Valley Bay South, NSW, June 2011]
Lateral view of a female Swift Parrot - note the salmon-pink
undertail coverts (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dover, TAS, September 2021]
Lateral view of a female Swift Parrot
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dover, TAS, September 2021]
Lateral view of a female Swift Parrot
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dover, TAS, September 2021]
Near-dorsal/ventral view of a female(?) Swift Parrot
[30 km N of Coonabarabran, NSW, July 2022]
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a Swift Parrot
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dover, TAS, September 2021]
Frontal view of a Swift Parrot hanging from a branch
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dover, TAS, September 2021]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Juvenile Swift Parrot reaching for a twig with a half-eaten leaf,
possibly to pick lerps from the underside of the leaf
[Chain Valley Bay South, NSW, June 2011]
Ventral view of a juvenile Swift Parrot climbing to the tip of a twig
[Chain Valley Bay South, NSW, June 2011]
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Behaviour |
Social behaviour: Communal | Mobility: Dispersive | Elementary unit: Flock |
Swift Parrots are often seen together with various types of lorikeets.
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Food, Diet |
Apart from nectar, Swift Parrots also feed on lerps.
Lateral view of a male Swift Parrot feeding on the nectar of
Swamp Mahogany
[Chain Valley Bay South, NSW, June 2011]
Swift Parrot feeding on nectar
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dover, TAS, September 2021]
Swift Parrot feeding on nectar
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Dover, TAS, September 2021]
Swift Parrot licking nectar; it appears that this young
bird does not quite know yet which flowers/buds contain nectar
and which don't...
[Chain Valley Bay South, NSW, June 2011]
Near-frontal view of a male Swift Parrot checking the underside
of eucalypt
leaves searching for
lerps
[30 km N of Coonabarabran, NSW, August 2022]
Female(?) Swift Parrot feeding on
lerps
[30 km N of Coonabarabran, NSW, July 2022]
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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.
swiftp_me_20210919.m4a | (S TAS) | Contact calls | © ME | |
swiftp_me_20210919_2.m4a | (S TAS) | Contact & feeding calls (flock) | © ME | |
swiftp_20220722.m4a | (NW NSW) | Warning/departure(?) | © MD | |
swiftp_20220722_3.m4a | (NW NSW) | Warning/departure(?) | © MD | |
swiftp_aa_20180925.m4a | (ACT) | Various (flock) | © AA | |
musklor_20220722_3.mp3 | (NW NSW) | Various (+ mob of Musk Lorikeets) | © MD |
More Swift Parrot sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.