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Turquoise Parrot (Neophema pulchella) Alternate name(s): "Beautiful Grass-parrot", "Chestnut-shouldered Grass-parrot", "Turquoisine Parrot", "Red-shouldered Parakeet" Size: 20-22 cm; wing span: ca. 32 cm Body mass: 35-46 g Wing loading [g/cm2]: ca. 0.20-0.25

Australia: Family Group 12 Family Group 12 Table Palm Cockatoo Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Glossy Black-Cockatoo Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Short-billed Black-Cockatoo Long-billed Black-Cockatoo Gang-gang Cockatoo Long-billed Corella Western Corella Little Corella Cockatiel Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Pink Cockatoo Galah Rainbow Lorikeet Red-collared Lorikeet Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Purple-crowned Lorikeet Varied Lorikeet Musk Lorikeet Little Lorikeet Eclectus Parrot Red-cheeked Parrot Double-eyed Fig-Parrot Australian King-Parrot Red-winged Parrot Princess Parrot Superb Parrot Regent Parrot Green Rosella Crimson Rosella Western Rosella Eastern Rosella Pale-headed Rosella Northern Rosella Red-capped Parrot Australian Ringneck Red-rumped Parrot Mulga Parrot Golden-shouldered Parrot Hooded Parrot Blue Bonnet Bourke's Parrot Budgerigar Swift Parrot Eastern Ground Parrot Night Parrot Blue-winged Parrot Scarlet-chested Parrot Rock Parrot Turquoise Parrot Elegant Parrot Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Thumbnails page Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Turquoise Parrots are small parrots. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. Male Turquoise Parrots have a blue face (forehead, throat and cheeks) and an otherwise all bright-yellow front, from the chest down to the undertail. The back, from the cap down to the uppertail, is olive-green. The upperwings, which are mostly olive-green, have a red shoulder patch and a blue leading edge. The flight feathers are dark-blue to black. Female Turquoise Parrots are much more inconspicuous, with a faint blue facial mask, an olive-green chest, a yellow to yellowish-orange belly and a yellow vent and undertail. Their back is the same as the males' and the wings are also similar to those of male Turquoise Parrots, except for the missing red shoulder patch. The irises of both sexes are dark, the bills are grey (males tend to have darker bills than females) and the legs and feet are pinkish-grey.

Taxonomy, classification See Turquoise Parrot at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Turquoise Parrot is available HERE . Turquoise Parrots are endemic to Australia. They live mostly on the western side of the Great Dividing Range and in its foothills, from northern inland VIC to southern QLD. However, their range also extends to the NSW Central Coast from about the Hunter River to the Woolongong area. Occasionally they are also found further South along the East coast, down to the NSW/VIC border. Turquoise Parrots are usually found in open eucalypt forest or woodland, often with grassy undergrowth or nearby grassland. Where to look? How to find this species? Compared to other parrot species, Turquoise Parrots are relatively hard to find. They usually stay in wooded areas, mostly on the slopes of the Great Dividing Range, where they can be found feeding on grass seeds under or near eucalypts. Sometimes they are also found by us near small watercourses, perched in casuarinas. Since they are very shy, Turquoise Parrots must be approached with care.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Turquoise Parrots, like many other parrots, are very quick and can be hard to spot. They were first seen by us in 2005, 20 km South of Narrabri, NSW. Subsequently the species has been spotted by us semi-regularly in various locations on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range, in the area of Barraba, Maules Creek and Narrabri. The farthest West we have so far found Turquoise Parrots is the Pilliga scrub. C. Hayne reports two separate sightings of a Turquoise Parrot at Whittaker's Lagoon, 20 km West of Moree, NSW, in February and November 2011. C. Hayne also spotted Turquoise Parrots in Inverell, NSW, in April 2014. M. Windeyer reports spotting Turquoise Parrots as far West as Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, NSW, in Warrumbungle NP, near Coonabarabran, NSW, and in Eumangerie near Gilgandra, NSW. Twitcher's tip Female Turquoise Parrots, when seen from the front or sideways, are easily mistaken for male Red-rumped Parrots, making a secure identification in the field difficult, if one does not spot a male or know their distinctive calls.

Photos

ADULT

PAIR

Lateral view of a pair of Turquoise Parrots feeding on the ground, female in front - if it wasn't for the male's blue face, they would be perfectly camouflaged
[Eulah Creek, NSW, September 2022]

Lateral/near-dorsal view of a pair of Turquoise Parrots - male on the left, female on the right
[Leard State Forest, NSW, September 2011]

Near-dorsal view of a pair of Turquoise Parrots in flight; male at the bottom right
[Near Barraba, NSW, April 2019]

Several pairs of Turquoise Parrots flushing from low vegetation by the edge of a gravel road
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, May 2016]

MALE

Frontal view of a male Turquoise Parrot (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, NSW, February 2012]

Near-frontal view of a male Turquoise Parrot (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, NSW, February 2012]

Near-frontal view of a male Turquoise Parrot
[Near Barraba, NSW, February 2015]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a male Turquoise Parrot; when seen from the front, male Turquoise Parrots look all-yellow, with a blue head
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, January 2008]

Near-lateral view of a male Turquoise Parrot (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mt. Kaputar NP, NSW, November 2018]

Close-up lateral view of a male Turquoise Parrot - given the richness of its colours, the gloss of the plumage and the prominent red-brown tints on the wings, this is most likely an α-male
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, August 2022]

Lateral view of a male Turquoise Parrot (photo courtesy of M. Windeyer)
[Warrumbungle NP, near Coonabarabran, NSW, July 2016]

Lateral view of a male Turquoise Parrot
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, January 2009]

Near-dorsal view of a male Turquoise Parrot approaching a water puddle
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, January 2009]

Lateral view of a male Turquoise Parrot approaching a water puddle at nightfall
[Near Barraba, NSW, June 2011]

Near-dorsal view of a male Turquoise Parrot
[Near Barraba, NSW, February 2015]

Dorsal view of a male Turquoise Parrot, with a clear view of the yellow outer tail feathers showing through from the underside
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, March 2008]

FEMALE

Near-frontal view of a female Turquoise Parrot looking at the observer
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, January 2009]

Near-frontal view of a female Turquoise Parrot
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, August 2025]

Near-frontal view of a female Turquoise Parrot drinking from a waterhole
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, January 2009]

Near-lateral view of a female Turquoise Parrot
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, August 2025]

Near-lateral view of a female Turquoise Parrot
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, August 2025]

Lateral view of a female Turquoise Parrot drinking water (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Timmallallie NP, NSW, November 2018]

Lateral/ventral view of a female Turquoise Parrot (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Inverell, NSW, April 2014]

Dorsal view of a female Turquoise Parrot
[Yarrie Lake, near Wee Waa, NSW, August 2025]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal/ventral view of a young, probably immature, female Turquoise Parrot looking sideways
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, April 2013]

Lateral/ventral view of a young, probably immature, female Turquoise Parrot
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, April 2013]

Near-dorsal view of an immature Turquoise Parrot looking sideways
[Deriah Aboriginal Area, NSW, March 2008]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Aug - Dec

Eggs: 2 - 6

Incubation period: 21 - 23 days

Fledging age: 24 - 30 days

Nest building: Female

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Female & male

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Tree hollow

Material: Wood dust

Height above ground: 0 - 5? m

Turquoise Parrots are known to use hollows at very low levels, e.g. in stumps, fallen logs or even strainer posts in fences (see below).

Strainer post in which a pair of Turquoise Parrots had its nest
[Near Narrabri, NSW, February 2009]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 21 x 18 mm

Colour: White

Shape: Rounded

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal?

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Pair/small flock

Turquoise Parrots are a species in which the female is the prime, probably sole incubator of the eggs, depending on the male to feed her. This leads to a bonding ritual, in which she begs him to provide her with food, to "prove his mettle", before she will mate with him.

Near-frontal view of a pair of Turquoise Parrots; the male is an older bird, displaying the characteristic orange band on its lower belly; the female, also tinged with a bit of orange, may also be a senior bird
[Glacial Valley near Rocky Creek, NSW, September 2008]

bonding ritual at the start of the breeding season: male feeding female
[Glacial Valley near Rocky Creek, NSW, September 2008]

The photo below shows that, like other parrots and cockatoos, outside the breeding season Turquoise Parrots also like to live in groups or flocks.

On this occasion there were about 30 Turquoise Parrots near a waterhole in the Pilliga scrub; two more birds were sitting on a neighbouring tree
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, July 2011]

Both Eastern Rosellas and Turquoise Parrots have been found by V. Collins and ourselves in large numbers at a location ca. 20 km NE of Narrabri, NSW, in May 2021. The observations were written up in a short report (PDF).

Food, Diet

Adults: Seeds, small berries

Dependents: Regurgitated seeds

Water intake: Daily

Like many parrots, Turquoise Parrots are seed-eaters; primarily they feed on grass seeds. We occasionally see them foraging on or by the sides of quiet gravel or dirt roads.

Close-up near-lateral view of a male Turquoise Parrot feeding on the fruit of a native shrub
[Near Narrabri, NSW, May 2022]

Lateral view of a male Turquoise Parrot feeding on the fruit of Pimelea neo-anglica, a shrub native to the New England region of NSW; one can clearly see the yellow feathers on the underside of the tail and the second layer of feathers forming the olive-green, camouflaged upperside
[Near Barraba, NSW, February 2015]

Lateral view of a senior male Turquoise Parrot drinking water (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, November 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a senior male Turquoise Parrot drinking water (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Timmallallie NP, NSW, November 2018]

Lateral view of a female Turquoise Parrot drinking water (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Timmallallie NP, NSW, November 2018]

Four Turquoise Parrots approaching a dam for a drink of water (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga scrub, NSW, November 2020]

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.

turqpar_20180217.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact calls	© MD
turqpar_20200815.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact calls (in-flight)	© MD
turqpar_20220517.m4a	(NW NSW)	Arrival (2)	© MD
turqpar_20191221.m4a	(NW NSW)	Warning calls (in-flight)	© MD
turqpar_20151016.m4a	(NW NSW)	Warning calls (Q&A in-flight)	© MD
turqpar_20200815_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	Warning/departure	© MD
turqpar_20180217_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	Warning/departure	© MD
turqpar_20180217_3.m4a	(NW NSW)	Alarm call	© MD
turqpar_20200529.m4a	(NW NSW)	Alarm calls (pair in flight)	© MD
turqpar_20181113_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	Alarm/departure	© MD
turqpar_20220517_2.m4a	(NW NSW)	Alarm/departure	© MD
turqpar_20240120.m4a	(NW NSW)	Various	© MD

More Turquoise Parrot sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.