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Red-capped Parrot  (Purpureicephalus spurius)

Also Known As: Pileated Parrot or Parakeet, King Parrot, Western King Parrot, Western Australian King Parrot, Hookbill
 
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Red-capped Parrot, male, Augusta, Western Australia

Credit: © Ian Montgomery | http://birdway.com.au
 
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Did You Know?
The elongated upper mandible of the Red-capped Parrot is adapted for dislodging the marri plant's large seeds, which are removed as the fruit is held in the bird's foot and rotated to and fro.

Status in the Wild
World Population:
Above 20,000

Range: SW Western Australia, north to lat. 30 degrees 30's and east to to Great Southern Railway, reaching south to Esperance district.

Habitat:
Found up to 200m (656 ft) in eucalyptus forest, orchards, towns, wooded paddocks and mallee.

Threat Summary:
Can be shot in a number of areas.

IUCN Rating:
Least concern

Wild Diet:
Feeds on marri fruits, seeds (including grass seeds), blossoms and insects.

CITES Rating:
Appendix II

Ecology:
Paired adults quiet, but noisy groups of 20 or more young birds travel in search of food. May forage on roadsides for grass seeds. Courtship is colourful and loud.

Clutch and Egg Size:
4-7 rounded eggs, 26.5 x 22.5mm (1 x 0.8 in).

Breeding Season:
August-December

Links to Other Project(s):
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/content/pw/vp/bird/23_red_capped_parrot.pdf

More Info Sites:
http://www.birdkeepinginaustralia.com/articles/article10.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-capped_Parrot

http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=MU931060.pdf