The hooded parrot (Psephotellus dissimilis) features unique characteristics and vibrant colors. This species is native to Australia, primarily found in the Northern Territory. Males display a black head and bright blue body, while females have a more muted green appearance. Both exhibit distinct traits that help them survive in their natural habitat
Description
Physical Appearance
The hooded parrot is medium-sized, reaching about 26 cm in length. It weighs between 50 and 60 grams, making it one of the smaller parrot species.
Size
Males and females differ in their looks. The male has a black head with a bluish-grey beak and dark-brown eyes. His body has a mix of brown, turquoise blue, and olive green, with a yellow patch on the wings. His legs are pink-grey.
Plumage/Feather Colours
Females have a more dull appearance, with green feathers and a grey-brown head. They lack the bright colours of the males, especially the vibrant yellow patch on the wings.
Distinct Markings
Juveniles look similar to females, keeping a green and brown appearance. Males are easily told apart from their closest relatives due to the absence of a pale frontal band and other small colour differences.
Habitat
Geographical Range
The hooded parrot is native to the Northern Territory in Australia. It’s primarily found in the northeastern part of the region. While it used to live across a wider area, it has disappeared from much of its original range. However, it’s still common in protected regions where it finds safety and suitable nesting sites.
Preferred Environments
This parrot prefers semi-arid areas, often settling in savannahs and open woodlands. These spaces provide the necessary food sources and nesting opportunities. Termite mounds are particularly important for the hooded parrot, as they play a key role in its unique breeding behaviour.
Diet
Primary Food Sources
The hooded parrot feeds mainly on seeds, berries, and vegetables. It often searches for food in the early morning and late afternoon when the temperature is cooler. Native grasses provide a regular supply of seeds, which make up a large portion of their diet.
Foraging and Hunting Behaviours
Hooded parrots typically forage on the ground, using their beaks to pick up seeds and small plants. They explore areas near water sources and scattered trees, taking advantage of open spaces where food is easier to access. These parrots rely on a combination of ground and low-branch foraging.
Behaviour
Nesting and Reproduction
Hooded parrots have a unique nesting habit—they dig their nests in termite mounds. They usually pick conical mounds and spend around three weeks excavating a tunnel. This tunnel can be 50 to 80 cm long and serves as the nesting chamber. Breeding happens between April and August, and the female lays four to five small, white eggs. There’s also a special relationship with a moth species, Trisyntopa neossophila, whose larvae clean the nest by eating parrot droppings.
Territoriality and Flocking
Hooded parrots typically live in small flocks. They are social but prefer staying in groups of similar size or age. During the breeding season, they can be more territorial, especially around nesting sites. They use soft calls to communicate within the group, with more vocal exchanges during foraging. This behaviour ensures coordination and reduces conflict over food or space.
Conservation Status
Population Trends
The hooded parrot is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. While its numbers have decreased in parts of its original range, it remains common in protected areas across the Northern Territory. Despite this, ongoing monitoring is important to ensure that populations remain stable.
Threats Faced
Key threats to the hooded parrot include habitat destruction, particularly the loss of nesting sites due to cattle damaging termite mounds. Predators like goannas also pose risks to nests, and environmental pollutants have caused occasional mass deaths, as seen in water contamination incidents.
Fun Facts
- The hooded parrot breeds readily in captivity but can be aggressive, which prevents it from being kept in a mixed aviary with other parrot species. It became popular in captivity in Australia during the 1980s, and a yellow mutation has since been bred.
- Norwegian naturalist Robert Collett named the bird in 1898, and dissimilus means “different,” likely referring to its distinct appearance compared to the golden-shouldered parrot.
- Hooded parrots prefer nesting in conical termite mounds, where they dig tunnels to create their nests.
- The tunnel to the nest goes into the centre of the mound, where the temperature is stable.
- The moth Trisyntopa neossophila lays eggs in the parrot's nesting cavity, and the larvae feed on waste, keeping the nest clean.
Similar Species
The golden-shouldered parrot (Psephotellus chrysopterygius), known locally as the alwal, arrmorral, minpin, thaku, and antbed parrot, is a rare species found in southern Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia. This small parrot shares a close relationship with the hooded parrot (P. dissimilis), which inhabits the Northern Territory.
Both species prefer nesting in termite mounds, yet they exhibit distinct features. The golden-shouldered parrot displays a yellow patch on its wings and lacks the black head seen in hooded parrots. Unlike the hooded parrot, the golden-shouldered parrot is endangered, facing threats from habitat loss and predation. The extinct paradise parrot, once found in Queensland and New South Wales, adds to this group of fascinating yet at-risk parrots.
