Colourful Parrots of Mungo Outback

by | Mar 22, 2018 | Bird News, Maximum Wildlife, Mungo Outback Journey

by Janine Duffy

The Mungo Outback is a hotspot for colourful parrots and cockatoos.

The Mallee Ringneck, Mulga Parrot and Rainbow Lorikeet stand out for sheer vibrancy, the olive and gold Bluebonnet shows best when flying, the Regent Parrot is striking in yellow and black, and the big cockatoos show off in watercolour shades of pink, lemon and grey.  For wildlife photographers, a visit is a must.

Over the years we have seen fifteen species of parrot and cockatoo on the Mungo Outback Journey. Here they are, grouped by colour.

colourful parrots of Mungo Outback - blue

Colourful Parrots of Mungo Outback: The blue ones

A small parrot and a lorikeet, both with blue faces.

Greater (Eastern) Bluebonnet Northiella haematogaster

A quiet shy parrot coloured in olive and tan on the back that makes them easy to miss when they feed on the ground.  When they fly, their stunning electric blue wings and yellow shoulders surprise.

Read more about Bluebonnets here

Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus

A fairly recent arrival in the region, the Rainbow Lorikeet is now a regular sight around Mildura and Wentworth. They are large for a lorikeet, noisy and social and dress in every colour of the rainbow.

yellow parrots of mungo outback

Colourful Parrots of Mungo Outback: The yellow ones

Two glowing parrots of the river country of Hattah, Mildura and Wentworth.

Regent Parrot Polytelis anthopeplus

Regent Parrots are known as Smokers by locals, due to their speed through the air – they go by so fast all you see is their smoke.  They are large and shy and fly into the top branches of tall River Red Gums around Hattah Lakes.  The male shines with a bright yellow head, breast and wing band, while the females have a green-yellow head.

Yellow (Crimson) Rosella Platycercus elegans 

Strangely, this parrot is the same species as the bright red Crimson Rosella of the coast and mountains, but just yellow instead of red.  Young birds are yellow-green, all have a blue cheek.

Colourful Parrots of Mungo Outback: The white ones

Two large cockatoos painted in striking white, with lemon underwings.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita

Large, brilliant with a prominent yellow crest, this cockatoo is seen in small groups around the waterways and settled districts of Wentworth, Mildura and Hattah.

Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea

Smaller than the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo but more inclined to form huge flocks, the Little Corella has a small white crest, pale blue eye-ring and a wash of pink on the lores (the area between eye and bill).

We have also seen one Long-billed Corella on the Mungo Outback Journey, in a flock with Little Corellas.  Wentworth is the very edge of their range. View eBird checklist

 

green parrots mungo

Colourful Parrots of Mungo Outback: The green-blue ones

Two medium-sized parrots of the dry forest, both coloured in turquoise, green, cobalt, red and yellow, and a blue-green parrot of the river country.

Mallee Ringneck Barnardius zonarius barnardi

This parrot has a red forehead and a gold ring around the neck which gives them their name.  Both sexes are brightly-coloured.

Mulga Parrot Psephotus varius

A little more shy than the Mallee Ringneck and harder to photograph, the male Mulga Parrot has a yellow forehead and red belly.  The female is less brilliant and lacks the red belly.

Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus

A small brilliant parrot – the male is turquoise, emerald and blue with a red rump, the female is olive and green and lacks the red.  These birds prefer the river country.

 

Colourful Parrots of Mungo Outback: The pink ones

Two large cockatoos with delicately beautiful pastel colouring.

Major Mitchell’s Cockatoo Cacatua leadbeateri

A large pink and white cockatoo with a huge pink, orange and yellow crest.  They are usually seen in small parties in the driest parts of the Mungo region.

Galah Eolophus roseicapilla

Distinctive in their pink and grey plumage, Galahs live throughout the Outback.  They can be seen in large flocks drinking from waterholes in the evening.

rare parrots of Mungo

Colourful Parrots of Mungo Outback: The rare ones

We have only seen these parrots on one occasion each – these species irrupt into the region in good years. Both species are known as pets, but seeing them in the wild is an experience never to be forgotten.

Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus

A fleeting sight of a tiny green parrot flying at speed in November 2016 with the Ventures Birding Group.  The distinctive call and small size helped us identify this tiny green and gold parrot.

Cockatiel  Nymphicus hollandicus 

Only seen in 2010, but in good numbers and seen several times on that trip – this lovely medium-sized crested parrot is coloured in grey, white and lemon with an orange cheek patch. Females lack the lemon face.  To see them in flight is magic – they have pointed wings and a long tail, quite like a falcon.

 

The best time to visit the colourful parrots of the Mungo Outback is March to November.  Our 4 day Mungo Outback Journey is booking now.