Orange-bellied Parrot
Scientific Name: Neophema chrysogaster
Size: Around 20 cm
What does it look and sound like?
The Orange-bellied Parrot, or OBP as it is often called, is generally grassy green above, with a yellow chest, orange belly, and a blue band above the eyes. It has a distinctive alert sound that resembles radio static.
Where is it found?
It is known to frequent coastal southern Victoria during the colder months, but the remainder of the year it spends in south-western Tasmania.
What are its habitats & habits?
It favours open shrublands and grasslands, where it feeds on the ground, mainly on the ground on the fruits, flowers and seeds of sedges in areas that have not been burned for over 3 years. It breeds in Tasmania in Spring and Summer each year, before making the annual migration back to the mainland for winter.
Interesting facts
The Orange-Bellied Parrot is the most threatened bird species in Australia and one of the most threatened parrot species in the world, with an estimated 50 individuals left in the wild. A captive-breeding program has been established in an attempt to prevent the species’ extinction in the wild.
This species features in my book Australia’s Birdwatching Megaspots
