Red Rump Parrot – Colour and Description

The Red Rump is a native of south eastern Australia and very much a well known bird in that area of the country.   They enjoy being close to a source water.   As they eat grass and seeds they have thrived in the areas where woodland has been cleared.   Their habitat can be both rural or suburban and they will be seen sitting on overhead cables just as often as you might see the in farm outbuildings.

The colouring of the Red Rump is most suitable to their habitat and usually the first sighting is when they take flight.   They are small plump long tailed birds.   The female is, as usual, a drab coloured bird, olive green generally with yellow neck and breast.   Even the yellow is a drab colour not bright and distinctive.   She has some blue feathers on her shoulders and some white feathers to the underside of her tail.    By way of contrast the male is brightly coloured.   He has breast, neck and head are bright green with a hint of blue, his back is rich crimson and the abdomen is yellow transforming to white with a little green under his tail.   He has yellow shoulder markings and the wings are blue-green.   His outer wing feathers are blue and the tail feathers green with a hint of blue.

The youngsters are, as always, similar in colouring but duller.  

The Red Rump is a gregarious species and you will see many of them roosting together at any location of their choice.   The move in flocks and forage around together, obviously, feeling safer in numbers.

All in all this is a happy little bird that enjoys company and is quite happy to live in a family home environment and whilst it may entertain on simple level it will not give quite to same amusement as one of its larger cousins.