BetterBirding
Bird guideRock Parrot

Unlike other grass parrots, it nests in burrows or rocky crevices mostly on offshore islands such as Rottnest Island .

Spot this speciesRead on Wikipedia
⚠️Not listed
🌿Endemic to Australia

At a glance

FamilyOld World Parrots
SizeMedium
RarityUncommon
HabitatRocky islands and coastal dune areas are the preferred habitats for this species, which is found from Lake Alexandrina in southeastern South Australia westwards across coastal South and Western Australia to Shark Bay .
Best timeMost reliable in South Australia from November to May.

Sounds

Sound sample
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Recorded by JACOB Hervé

Range map

Range map

182visible hotspots
1484visible records
2states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Attractive small parrot of southwestern Australia. Dull olive-green parrot with yellowish lower belly and limited blue in folded wing. Face pale blue between eye and bill, with thin blue line between the eyes. Juvenile has yellow on face. Compare Blue-winged Parrot (brighter green, with more yellow on face, large blue wing patch) and Elegant Parrot (yellower, yellow on face).

Behavior

Feeds on the ground in open coastal salt marsh and coastal grasslands.

Gallery

Regional timing

South Australia
Peak: November to May1,330 records
Western Australia
Peak: October to November154 records

Commonly confused with

Elegant ParrotNeophema elegansHandsome small parrot of southern Australia. Yellowish-green overall, with yellow underbelly, green back, green head, and thin dark blue patch on folded wing. Face yellow between eye and bill, with a thin blue line between the eyes. Compare Rock Parrot (duller green, lacks the yellow on face) and Blue-winged Parrot (more olive, small yellow patch behind eye).→Western RosellaPlatycercus icterotisThe only rosella found in southwestern Western Australia, where it inhabits open woodland habitats and parks, usually feeding on the ground. Adult mottled green and black (or red) above, with red underparts and crown, blue rump, and blue wings. Adult male has more intense colors than female; juvenile lacks yellow cheeks and is more extensively green. Two subspecies exist, varying in back color: the inland subspecies has a green-and-black back, the southwestern subspecies a red-and-black back.→Red-capped ParrotPurpureicephalus spuriusUpperparts dark green, underparts purple, with red under the tail, red cap, and bright lime-green cheeks. Juvenile lacks red cap and is dully plumaged below.→
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