The Scarlet-chested Parrot Neophema splendida

Abstract

The past and present status of the Scarlet-chested Parrot Neophema splendida is discussed. A bird of the arid inland, its spasmodic occurrences in the interior of Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales are recorded, and single reports for Victoria and the Northern Territory are noted. This parrot would appear to be seen more often in South Australia than elsewhere.

The habitat is arid and usually waterless, with an average rainfall of less than ten inches. Mallee Eucalyptus sp. and Mulga Acacia sp. are the dominant shrubs of the dry scrubs inhabited. Spiky tussocks of porcupine grass Triodia, often called Spinifex, form a sparse ground cover.

This parrot is a vegetarian, feeding on the ground on grass and acacia seeds. Apparently most of its moisture requirements are obtained from succulent plant stems. Reports of it drinking at surface waters are rare.

Like its relative, the Orange-breasted Parrot N. chrysogaster (Jarman, 1965), it has irrupted in large numbers on a few occasions, but often several years elapse between reports of its occurrence.

The Scarlet-chested Parrot is one of our rarest and least known parrots.