A beautiful species of parrot called the Superb Parrot has ventured into Belconnen in numbers this summer.
The species breeds in woodlands on the south-west slopes and comes as far south as the Wallaroo Rd area north of Hall. It’s a threatened species (vulnerable in NSW and ACT).
Every December and January, after the young have fledged, small groups (up to about 30) of Superb Parrots come into the Mt Rogers area (Flynn and Fraser in north Belconnen) to feed on grass seeds.
This year there are loads of the birds much further in town. Last week there were 100+ in Macquarie. This week there are many birds around the Belconnen markets and between the DIMIA building and the Belconnen mall. There are lots of young birds being fed by parents.
Males are bright green with yellow throats and foreheads, and a scarlet crescent under the yellow throat. Females and young birds are duller green with no yellow or red markings. The birds have long slender tails and are slightly bigger than the Crimson Rosellas we normally see around town.
Here is a link to some photos of Superb Parrots, on the Canberra Ornithologists Groups photo gallery website.
Keep your eye out for these spectacular birds. They migrate north at the end of January.
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