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Status in the Wild

World Population:
More than 100,000.

Range:
N.h. haematogaster: E South Australia, east of Lake Eyre basin and north Flinders Ranges, to NW Victoria, W New South Wales and SW Queensland.
N.h. haematorrhous: Interior of N New South Wales and S Queensland.
N.h. pallescens: Lake Eyre basin and lower Cooper-Strzelecki Creeks drainages in SW Queensland, NE South Australia and NW New South Wales.
N.h. narethae: restricted to SE Western Australia, west to SW South Australia.


Habitat:
Seen in a variety of habitats including open woodland, riverine woodland, remnant mallee Eucalyptus sp. and farmland. In Lake Erye the species is found in open country with scattered trees. Narethae is found in dry areas with desert she-oak and mulga.

Threat Summary:
Subspecies narethae has suffered from trapping in the past; population may be less than 5000 individuals.

IUCN Rating:
Least concern

Wild Diet:
Feeds on berries, blossoms, insect larvae and nectar, as well as spilt wheat.

CITES Rating:
Appendix II

Ecology:
Narethae moves seasonally, with the rains. The other subspecies are resident. Are usually seen in pairs or small groups of up to 20 birds. Boisterous and active, this species assembles early to drink and then goes off to feed. The birds feed both on the ground and in trees.

Clutch and Egg Size:
5-6 rounded eggs, 23.5 x 19.5mm (0.9 x 0.7 in)

Breeding Season:
July-December

Links to Other Project(s):
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/action/birds2000/pubs/blue-bonnet.pdf

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/biodiversity/pdfs/biosurvey/murray_mallee/h_mm_birds.pdf

http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/arh159v1.pdf

More Info Sites:
http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=554876

http://www.birdkeepinginaustralia.com/memberssection/articles/bluebonnets.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Bonnet