Alisterus scapularis
The Australian King Parrots are endemic to eastern Australia. They are found in humid and heavily forested upland regions, including eucalyptus wooded areas in and directly adjacent to subtropical and temperate rainforest.
Adults of both sexes are very majestic birds, typically 42 cm (16 inches) in length including a long tail.They are frequently seen in small groups with various species of Rosella.
King-Parrots lay their eggs at the bottom of a deep hollow in the trunk of a tree. Often the entrance is high in the tree (10 m) but the eggs are near the ground (0.5 m).
In their natural habitat these birds forage for seeds and fruit. But the King-Parrot appears to be increasing in abundance in well-treed suburbs, where it feeds at artificial feeding stations and fruiting trees.
The above picture was taken in the Attica Zoological Park, Athens, Greece, in June 2007.
Genus Alisterus
Tribe Psittaculini
Subfamily Psittacinae
Family Psittacidae
Order Psittaciformes
Class Aves
Subphylum Vertebrata
Phylum Chordata
Kingdom Animalia
Life on Earth
Index