Editing Red-rumped parrot

{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Red-rumped parrot
| image = Psephotus haematonotus male - Cornwallis Rd.jpg
| image_caption = Male in New South Wales, Australia
| image2 = Psephotus haematonotus female - Cornwallis Rd.jpg
| image2_caption = Female in New South Wales, Australia
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref =<ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International. |year=2024 |title=''Psephotus haematonotus'' |volume=2024 |page=e.T22685139A254012516 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-2.RLTS.T22685139A254012516.en |access-date=17 February 2025}}</ref>
| genus = Psephotus
| parent_authority = [[John Gould|Gould]], 1845
| display_parents = 2
| species = haematonotus
| authority = ([[John Gould|Gould]], 1838)
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision = * ''P. h. caeruleus''<small> (Condon, 1941)</small>
* ''P. h. haematonotus'' <small>(Gould, 1838)</small>
}}

The '''red-rumped parrot''' ('''''Psephotus haematonotus'''''), also known as the '''red-backed parrot''' or '''grass parrot''', is a medium-sized [[broad-tailed parrot]] endemic to open woodland in south-eastern [[Australia]], particularly in the [[Murray-Darling Basin]]. It is a highly [[Sexual dimorphism|sexually dimorphic]] species, with the adult female mainly being a greyish olive-green with lighter underparts and the adult male predominantly being a brightly coloured green and gold with various shades of blue on the wings. Only the adult male possesses the red [[Rump (animal)|rump]] that gives the species its common name.

It is commonly found in open, grassy habitats, both in natural open woodland and in man-made environments such as paddocks, fields, parks and gardens. It has adapted well to rural and suburban areas and is commonly observed foraging on the ground for a variety of seeds.

==Taxonomy and naming==
The red-rumped parrot was described by [[John Gould]] in 1838{{efn|1=Although Gould presented the new species in 26 September 1837, the account was not published until 15 February 1838}} as ''Platycercus haematonotus'' from a specimen collected in New South Wales. He felt it was intermediate between the genera ''[[Rosella|Platycercus]]'' and the now obsolete genus ''Nanodes'', placing it in the former. He gave it its species name on account of its red rump.<ref>{{cite journal | last= Gould |first= John | year= 1837| title=Mr. Gould exhibited from his Australian collection of Birds two species of the genus ''Platycercus'', which he considered new |journal=Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London |volume=5 |pages= 88–89 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/96163#page/260/mode/1up}} [Gould's species description appears in the meeting notes  without a title.]</ref> Gould later reclassified it as ''Psephotus haematonotus'' in his book, ''Birds of Australia,'' Volume 5.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last1=Sindel |first1=Stan |title=Australian Grass Parrakeets (The Psephotus and Northiella genera) |last2=Gill |first2=James |date=1996 |isbn=0958772754 |pages=66–97}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 August 2022 |title=The Birds of Australia: in seven volumes 05 |url=https://australian.museum/learn/collections/museum-archives-library/john-gould/the-birds-of-australia-05/ |access-date=2 August 2024 |website=Australian Museum}}</ref>

It is the [[type species]] for the genus ''Psephotus''. It was long presumed to be closely related to the [[mulga parrot]], however analysis of multiple genetic material shows it to be an early offshoot of a group containing the genera ''[[Platycercus]]'' and ''[[Barnardius]]''.<ref name="schweizer12">{{cite journal|author1=Schweizer, Manuel |author2=Güntert, Marcel |author3=Hertwig, Stefan T. |year=2012 |url=http://bbcd.bio.uniroma1.it/bbcd/sites/default/files/file%20lezioni/Parrots.pdf |title=Out of the Bassian province: historical biogeography of the Australasian platycercine parrots|journal=Zoologica Scripta|volume=42|issue=1|pages=13–27|doi=10.1111/j.1463-6409.2012.00561.x|s2cid=53957317}}</ref><ref name="Joseph">{{cite journal |url=https://wrightbehaviorlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Joseph2011MPE.pdf |title=Molecular systematics of two enigmatic genera ''Psittacella'' and ''Pezoporus'' illuminate the ecological radiation of Australo-Papuan parrots (Aves: Psittaciformes)|author1=Leo Joseph |author2=Alicia Toon |author3=Erin E. Schirtzinger |author4=Timothy F. Wright |year=2011|journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution|volume=59|pages=675–684|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2011.03.017|issue=3|pmid=21453777|bibcode=2011MolPE..59..675J }}</ref> Hence all other species in the genus have been moved to the new genus ''[[Psephotellus]]'', leaving the red-rumped parrot as the sole member in the now [[Monotypic taxon|monotypic]] genus.

The species name derives from Ancient Greek ''psephotos'', meaning "inlaid with pebbles". The [[specific epithet]] ''haematonotus'' stems from Greek ''haimato'', meaning "blood" and ''noton'' meaning "back".<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last1=Slater |first1=Peter |title=The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds |last2=Slater |first2=Pat |last3=Slater |first3=Raoul |year=2009 |isbn=978-0727020857 |edition=2nd |pages=230}}</ref>

Two subspecies are recognised:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Australia |first=Atlas of Living |title=Species: Psephotus haematonotus (Red-Rumped Parrot) |url=https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/7890d5ed-3830-435e-98cb-88c6a1103a91#classification |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=bie.ala.org.au}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Parrots, cockatoos – IOC World Bird List |url=https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/parrots/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=www.worldbirdnames.org}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Psephotus haematonotus – Red-rumped Parrot – Encyclopedia of Parrots |url=https://parrots.lars-bodin.dk/psephotus-haematonotus/ |access-date=2024-09-02}}</ref>

* ''P. h. haematonotus'' (Gould, 1838) - the [[nominate subspecies]]. Found in south-eastern Australia throughout much of [[New South Wales]] and [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]].
* ''P. h. caeruleus'' (Condon, 1941) - found further inland in north-eastern [[South Australia]] and south-western [[Queensland]].

The [[IOC World Bird List]] has designated red-rumped parrot as its official common name. It is also commonly known as the red-backed parrot or grass parrot.<ref name=":2" />

==Description==
Red-rumped parrots are slim, moderate-sized parrots measuring approximately {{convert|28|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length and weighing between 45 and 77 grams.

The adult male's [[plumage]] is mainly a bright emerald-green with yellow underparts. The [[Mantle (bird anatomy)|mantle]], upper back and scapulars are a dull green-blue. The lower back and rump is brick-red. blue highlights on the wings and upper back and bright yellow patches on the shoulders. The irises are light brown.

The adult female's plumage is less vibrant, with pale olive underparts. The mantle, upper back and scapulars are a dull olive-green. The lower back and rump are lime-green. The irises are a light grey-brown. The characteristic red rump is only found in the male.

The plumage of juvenile males resemble females, except for their red rumps and light blue-green faces. Adults of both sexes have grey bills, being darker in the male, whereas immature birds have brown to yellow-brown bills. Both sexes have dark-grey flight feathers and dark blue [[underwing coverts]], with blue outer wing tips visible in flight. An off-white white underwing bar is present on females of all ages and is retained in juvenile and immature males. The underwing bar is absent in males of approximately 2 years of age or older.<ref name=":3" /><ref name="BoTW">{{Cite journal |last1=Collar |first1=Nigel |last2=Kirwan |first2=Guy M. |last3=Boesman |first3=Peter F. D. |date=2020 |title=Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus), version 1.0 |url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/rerpar1/cur/introduction |journal=Birds of the World |doi=10.2173/bow.rerpar1.01 |issn=2771-3105 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus) |url=https://absa.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Red-rumped-Parrot.pdf |website=absa.asn.au |publisher=Australian Bird Study Association inc. (ABSA)}}</ref> A few months following [[fledging]], juveniles will [[Moulting|moult]] into adult-like plumage, retaining their flight and tail feathers. Moulting into the complete adult plumage begins when the birds are about 1 year old.<ref name=":8" />

It is similar in appearance to the closely related [[mulga parrot]] (''Psephotellus varius'') which can be distinguished by its overall difference in colour, mainly the yellow band above its bill, red patch on the [[nape]] and smaller, darker red patch at the base of the tail which is present in both males and females.<ref name=":6" /> [[File:Psephotus haematonotus -Eastern Creek, New South Wales, Australia -pair-8.jpg|thumb|right|Female (left) and male (right) at Eastern Creek, New South Wales, Australia]]

==Distribution and habitat==
Red-rumped parrots are widely distributed throughout lightly timbered plains, open woodland and other grassy habitats in south-eastern Australia below {{convert|1000|m|ft}}. Their range encompasses most of [[New South Wales]] and [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]], as well as parts of southern [[Queensland]] and eastern [[South Australia]].<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Red-rumped Parrot {{!}} BIRDS in BACKYARDS |url=https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Psephotus-haematonotus |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=www.birdsinbackyards.net}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> They avoid the coast and the wetter, more heavily wooded areas.<ref name="BoTW" />

Subspecies ''caeruleus'' is only found far inland surrounding the Queensland-South Australia border.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Australia |first=Atlas of Living |title=Subspecies: Psephotus haematonotus caeruleus (Lake Eyre Basin Red-Rumped Parrot) |url=https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/81168fc9-c695-46ef-bf12-f74a186e1443#overview |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=bie.ala.org.au}}</ref>

They have adapted well to some urban and suburban areas and can be found in farmland, on [[Road verge|roadside verges]] and in parks and gardens.<ref name="BoTW" /><ref>{{Cite book |title=Nature Guide: Birds of Australia |publisher=DK Australia |year=2013 |isbn=978-1740338981}}</ref>

==Behaviour==
Red-rumped parrots are non-migratory, with local movements after the breeding season. They can be found in pairs or flocks, occasionally reaching numbers of up to 100 or more birds. They are most [[Crepuscular animal|crepuscular]], active during dawn and dusk and avoiding activity during the hottest times of day.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Red-rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus) {{!}} Parrot Encyclopedia |url=https://www.parrots.org/encyclopedia/red-rumped-parrot |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=www.parrots.org}}</ref> They spend a great deal of time feeding on the ground, and often call to one another with an attractive {{not a typo|''chee chillip chee chillip''}}. Their green plumage provides such a good camouflage in ankle length grasses that they can hide quite effectively until the viewer is only 10–20 metres away.

===Breeding===
[[File:Psephotus haematonotus -Crestwood Reserve, Baulkham Hills, Sydney, Australia -pair-8.jpg|left|thumb|A pair at a nest hollow in suburban Sydney, Australia]]
Like many parrots, red-rumped parrots nest in tree hollows or similar places, including fenceposts and stumps. They lay 4-6 white eggs around 2 or so centimetres. Breeding usually takes place in spring (September–November); however, in the dryer inland areas, breeding can occur at any time of year in response to rainfall. They will begin to breed from between 12 and 18 months of age.<ref name="BoTW" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Martin |first=Toby |title=A Guide to Neophema and Psephotus Grass Parrots |publisher=Australian Birdkeeper Publications |year=1997 |edition=Revised |isbn=9780958710244}}</ref>

Red-rumped parrots are [[Monogamy in animals|monogamous]] and pair for life. Both sexes defend the nest hollow. Incubation takes around 20–25 days and is done by the female alone. The father brings food to the mother while she incubates the eggs and feeds the chicks during their first few weeks of life, afterwards, feeding duties are undertaken by both parents. The fledging period begins when the chicks are 4–5 weeks of age.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nest box for the Red-rumped Parrot |url=https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/sites/www.birdsinbackyards.net/files/Red-rumped%20parrot_0.pdf |access-date=1 September 2024 |website=birdsinbackyards.net}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds |publisher=Reader's Digest (Australia) Pty Ltd |year=1976 |isbn=0949819999 |pages=312}}</ref>

Courtship involves a display where the male stretches out his body, fans out and wags his tail, bobs his head up and down and thrusts out his shoulders, exposing the bright yellow and blue wing patches. The display is followed by the male [[Allofeeding|mutually feeding]] the female through regurgitation. Mutual [[preening]] may be observed in bonded pairs, although it is uncommon among broad-tailed parrots.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Silva |first=Tony |title=Psittaculture: Breeding, Rearing and Management of Parrots |date=1991 |isbn=1895270022 |pages=173–179}}</ref>

===Feeding===
[[File:Redrumpedparrot.jpg|thumb|Male and female feeding on the ground]]
The red-rumped parrot's diet primarily consists of seeds and leaves of grasses and other [[Herbaceous plant|herbaceous]] plants, both native and [[Introduced species|introduced]]. They may occasionally feed on small fruits, shoots and flowers. They predominantly feed on the ground in pairs or small flocks, and may be seen feeding with other seed-eating parrots such as [[galah]]s and [[eastern rosella]]s.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7" />

===Threats===
Currently, the red-rumped parrot is listed as [[Least-concern species|Least Concern]] on the [[IUCN Red List|IUCN Red List of Threatened Species]], and does not appear on the [[Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999|EPBC Act]] List of Threatened Fauna.<ref name="IUCN" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=EPBC Act List of Threatened Fauna |url=https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicthreatenedlist.pl |access-date=7 September 2024 |website=Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water}}</ref> Its population size has not been estimated, however it is believed to be increasing, and the species is reported to be common throughout its range.

Unlike many other Australian birds which are in decline due to land clearing and deforestation,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Land clearing |url=https://www.bushheritage.org.au/what-we-do/our-challenge/land-clearing |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=Bushheritage.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 July 2015 |title=State of Australia's Birds report released: common birds facing declines |url=https://www.birdsinbackyards.net/content/article/State-Australias-Birds-report-released-common-birds-facing-declines |archive-date= |access-date=7 August 2024}}</ref> the distribution and population of the red-rumped parrot are likely increasing as ongoing land clearing creates more suitable open habitat for the species.<ref name="IUCN" /><ref name=":7" />

Red-rumped parrots are often hit by cars and other vehicles when feeding on roadside verges, and are often killed by [[Feral cat|feral]] and outdoor cats.<ref name=":6" /> The introduced and [[Invasive species|invasive]] [[common myna]] (''Acridotheres tristis'') and [[Common starling|European starling]] (''Sturnus vulgaris'') regularly outcompete red-rumped parrots and other native hollow-nesting species for nest sites. A study published in 1997 reveals that these two introduced birds are the dominant occupiers of available nest hollows and show strong evidence that they reduce the breeding success of native species. In this study, red-rumped parrots were often outcompeted by both introduced species, as well as the native [[eastern rosella]] and [[crimson rosella]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Pell |first1=A. S. |last2=Tidemann |first2=C. R. |year=1997 |title=The impact of two exotic hollow-nesting birds on two native parrots in savannah and woodland in Eastern Australia |url=https://indianmynaaction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Pell_Tidemann_myna_impacts1997.pdf |journal=Biological Conservation |publisher=Elsevier Science Limited |volume=79 |issue=1 |page=145 |doi=10.1016/S0006-3207(96)00112-7 |bibcode=1997BCons..79..145P |issn=0006-3207}}</ref>

==Aviculture==
Red-rumped parrots are becoming increasingly popular in aviculture due to their large range of attractive colour mutations and ease of care. They are incredibly hardy and can be kept in a variety of weather and climatic conditions. Compatible pairs breed readily in captivity if provided with necessary flight space and a large nesting box. They may raise up to four broods in a single season. Care must be taken to ensure parent birds do not display any signs of aggression towards their young once they have fledged.<ref name=":1" />

===Housing===
Red-rumped parrots do well in aviaries and large cages. Only one male-female pair of red-rumps should be housed per enclosure, as these birds are known to be aggressive towards other birds, especially their own kind. Outdoor aviaries should provide ample shade and weatherproofing, as well as direct sunlight.<ref name=":1" />

===Mutations===
Red-rumped parrots have been bred in a wide variety of colour mutations, with an estimated total of over 22 mutations available at present. These include cinnamon, lutino, pied, blue, albino and opaline.<ref name=":1" />

===Lifespan===
In captivity, their average lifespan is 15 years, however, with proper feeding and care, these birds may live up to 32 years.<ref name=":3" />

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Psephotus haematonotus|''Psephotus haematonotus''}}

{{Psittacopasseres|Ps.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q927398}}

[[Category:Psephotus|red-rumped parrot]]
[[Category:Broad-tailed parrots|red-rumped parrot]]
[[Category:Birds of South Australia]]
[[Category:Birds of Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Endemic birds of Australia]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1838|red-rumped parrot]]
[[Category:Taxa named by John Gould]]