Swift Parrot

Male and female (right) investigating a nest hollow

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Scientific Name: Lathamus discolor

Size: around 25 cm

What does it look and sound like?

Appearance and Key Features

The Swift Parrot is a bright green, slender parrot that grows to about 25 cm in size. It has a bright red forehead and throat, a yellow moustachial stripe, and a pale blue wash around its yellow eyes and cheeks. Its upperparts are a deeper green than its underparts, which have a faint yellow wash. The undertail coverts and underwing-coverts are bright red. It has a long, thin, deep red tail and a dark grey bill.

Juveniles

Juvenile Swift Parrots are duller in colour than the adults, which is particularly noticeable in their facial markings. They also have a yellowish bar on their underwing.

Similar Species

The Swift Parrot may be confused with several lorikeet species, but lorikeets have shorter tails. The Rainbow Lorikeet is more robust with a blue head and red bill, while the Scaly-breasted Lorikeet has a bright orange bill and no red on its face.

Where is it found?

Distribution and Migration

The Swift Parrot is a migratory bird that breeds in Tasmania and migrates to mainland south-eastern Australia for the winter. Its range on the mainland includes Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT, Queensland, and South Australia. They are considered a seasonal visitor to Victoria, typically seen between April and September.

Conservation Status

The Swift Parrot is listed as critically endangered in both Australia and Victoria. It is suffering from significant habitat loss, particularly the loss of suitable breeding hollows in Tasmania.

What are its habitats & habits?

Habitat

On the mainland, the Swift Parrot is found in dry sclerophyll forests and open eucalypt woodlands, especially when the trees are flowering. They can also be found in suburban parks.

Habits and Breeding

Swift Parrots are highly vocal, making a constant high-pitched chatter while in the canopy or flying between flowering trees. They can be seen individually, in pairs, or in small flocks. They breed exclusively in Tasmania, with the breeding season running from September to December.