Birdsong field guide
Regent Parrot
Polytelis anthopeplus
The Regent Parrot is a slender, long-tailed Australian parrot known for its striking golden-yellow plumage and elegant flight. It is highly social and often observed in small groups within woodland and riverine environments.
What it sounds like
A harsh, rolling 'rak-rak-rak' or a series of nasal, chattering notes delivered in flight.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
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Field notes
- The species exists in two geographically isolated populations: the nominate subspecies in Western Australia and a vulnerable subspecies in the Murray-Darling basin.
- They are exceptionally fast and agile flyers, capable of reaching speeds up to 60 kilometers per hour to commute between nesting and foraging sites.
- Regent Parrots are obligate cavity nesters, specifically requiring large, old-growth River Red Gums that are often over 100 years old.
- They exhibit distinct sexual dimorphism, where males are a vibrant yellow-green and females possess a more subdued olive-green coloration.
- Unlike many parrots, they often forage on the ground, consuming a diet of seeds, cereal grains, and fallen fruit.
Habitat
Eucalypt woodlands, mallee scrub, and riparian forests near permanent water sources.
Range
South-western Western Australia and the interior of south-eastern Australia (New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia).
Similar & commonly confused birds
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