Fun Barraband's Parakeet Facts For Kids

There are 350 species of parrots in the world and the Barraband's parakeet is one of them. They are known by their scientific name Polytelis swainsonii and their common name superb parrots. These parakeets are also addressed as green leek parrots.

Superb parrots are endemic to Southeastern Australia including Victoria, and New South Wales. Superb parrots (Polytelis swainsonii) are widely seen in these regions and rarely seen in other parts of the world. Superb parrots (Polytelis swainsonii) live and nest in trees in forests.

Owing to their similar color, it is easy to mistake them with other species of parakeets, however, it is best to identify them based on the region they are endemic to. The superb parrot (Polytelis swainsonii) is considered a poor talker, however, some owners might disagree.

The superb parrot (Polytelis swainsonii) bird is a herbivore and feeds on seeds, fruits, fruits, nectar, vegetables, and nuts as food.

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Barraband's Parakeet Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Barraband's parakeet?

The superb parrot (Polytelis swainsonii) is a parakeet that belongs to the kingdom Animalia, order Psittaciformes, and genus polytelis.

What class of animal does a Barraband's parakeet belong to?

The superb parrot (Polytelis swainsonii) is a type of bird that belongs to class Aves, family Psittaculidae, and genus Polytelis.  

How many Barraband's parakeets are there in the world?

Superb parrots have a total breeding population of 6500 birds. Superb parrots are classified as a Least Concern species by the IUCN Red List.

Where does a Barraband's parakeet live?

The Barraband's parakeet range includes homes as pets as well as in trees in forests. They are seen in Australia in the states of Victoria and New South Wales. These birds are bred in a colony system and feed on food together.

What is a Barraband's parakeet's habitat?

The superb parrot habitat constitutes forests, grasslands, and in homes as pets. They are seen in Australia, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria. Farmers regard them as pests since superb parrots feed on crops.

Who do Barraband's parakeets live with?

Barraband's parakeets live together in groups, although they may nest solitarily. As pets, it is better to keep Barraband's parakeets in pairs rather than keeping them individually. These birds are bred in a colony system.

How long does a Barraband's parakeet live?

A Barraband's parakeet life expectancy is 25 years of age when kept at peak condition. The oldest parrot in the world was named Cookie, lived for 82 years, and lived in the Brookfield Zoo until May 1934 where it was provided excellent care.

How do they reproduce?

Breeding season occurs in the United States from March, however, in Australia, breeding season occurs from September until December. Female superb parrots reach sexual maturity at one year, while males reach sexual maturity at two years.

Superb parrots nest in hollow trees or in holes of trees. Parrot groups may nest together in some instances.

Males perform courtship rituals in order to attract possible females. Barraband's parakeet breeding males forage for food by themselves and then feed females and the young. They may lay two clutches per year with three to five eggs per clutch.

The incubation period for this bird lasts 20-22 days during the breeding season. Adult pairs may nest together in colonies in the wild and may breed multiple times.

What is their conservation status?

The Barraband's parakeet (superb parrot) is classified as a Least Concern species by the International Union For Conservation Of Nature IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Barraband's Parakeet Fun Facts

What do Barraband's parakeets look like?

Superb parrots are predominantly green with long tail feathers with yellow edges in the description. Both males and females have orange-yellow irises, gray eye-rings, gray feet, and reddish-pink bills. Adult males have a bright red band across the upper chest, bright yellow face, and throat.

They have a bright red band across the upper chest along with a bright yellow face and green throat. Their primarily flight feathers have a blue outer webbing along with a blackish underside. Their upper tail is yellow.

Adult females have a natural darker plumage with an undertipped feathers being pink. Juveniles look similar to females with a natural dark plumage and obtain their true color as they develop and are about one year old.

How cute are they?

Adult superb parrots, as well as juveniles, are extremely cute in appearance. They are aesthetically pleasing in appearance and are sociable birds. Male superb parrots are more bright in appearance compared to females.

They are adopted in a pair and seldom seen as solitary beings. Their closest relative is the regent parrot. This closest relative to superb parrots has common features.

How do they communicate?

A Barraband's parrot should ideally be kept in a pair and have a friendly personality. They communicate using their throat and mouth, and their throat is responsible for giving these birds a voice. They are compatible with most species and are accommodative towards new environments.

They can be quiet in certain instances. In the wild, they are found in flocks and communicate through courtship displays during the breeding season. Males are adopted frequently since they have the ability to mimic human speech.

How big is a Barraband's parakeet?

A Superb parrot is 15.7-17.7 in (40-45 cm) in length, which is 20 times bigger than the smallest bird in the world, the bee hummingbird measuring 2.2-2.4 in (5.5-6.1 cm) in length.

How fast can a Barraband's parakeet fly?

A Barraband's parrot flies at moderately good speeds. Their flight feathers are colorful and bright. Peregrine falcon birds are the fastest bird in the world, reaching speeds of 200 mph (321.9 kph).These parrots usually stay together in flocks and also move in flocks from one place to another.

How much does a Barraband's parakeet weigh?

A Barraband's parakeet weighs 0.3 lb (150 g). Kakapo is the world's heaviest parrot as well as the longest living parrot in the world.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Barraband's parakeet male parrots are called cocks, and Barraband's parakeet female parrots are called hens. Both parrots are different in appearance and also differ in reproductive functions. Breeding pairs have various courtship displays. Males and females may breed multiple times throughout their lifetime. Nesting boxes can be placed for birds bred in captivity.

What would you call a baby Barraband's parakeet?

A baby Barraband's parakeet is called a chick and the young birds are raised by their parents in their nests. The chicks are born without feathers and are usually fed food by their parents. Breeding parrot pairs may nest in colonies in order to protect the juveniles.

What do they eat?

The green leek parrot species is primarily a herbivore. These parrots travel together in groups and often in pairs. They can be seen feeding on grains, seeds, nuts, fruits, nectar, vegetables, and fruits.

Feeding may occur multiple times of the day and they do not have any particular feeding time. Predators of this birds species include hawks, eagles, owls, and snakes. During the breeding season, the males bring food for the females and the offspring.

Are they poisonous?

No, this superb parrot species are not dangerous. They are sociable birds and get along with humans from a young age. The most dangerous bird in the world is the cassowary which is known to be capable of causing fatality.

Would they make a good pet?

Superb parrots are good pets. Male superb parrots are preferred since they are capable of mimicking human voices. A female superb parrot is rarely adopted.

While adopting, it is best to adopt them in pairs. Parakeets are one of the best birds for beginners. There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't adopt a superb parrot unless it is not endemic to your region.

A Barraband's parakeet for sale as a pet can be found in select regions of the world. The Barraband's parakeet price may vary depending on one region to another.

Owning pet species that are endemic to your region is the best for the survival of the species.

Species endemic to the United States include the thick-billed parrot and Carolina parakeet. When breeding them in captivity, it is essential to install a box with adequate space and this box needs to closely resemble their nesting habitats for them to lay their eggs in.

Did you know...

Some birds have a herbivore diet while other birds consume a carnivorous diet. However, birds who have a carnivorous diet also consume insects. Their diet includes species smaller in size.

A Superb parrot is a parakeet that comes from a term that means long tail. Apart from their long tail, a superb parrot, similar to other parakeets, has a beak that never stops growing. Giving them chew toys is needed in captivity.

Parakeets, including the superb parrot, have excellent vocabulary. As per the 'Guinness Book Of World Records', the record holder for the highest number of words belongs to Puck the Budgerigar, who had a vocabulary of 1700 words.

To analyze the health of a superb parrot, it is best to look at their feet. Scaly feet can be a sign of deficiency or parasites.  

What is unique about Barraband's parakeets?

They are primarily known for their long tails. Barraband's parakeets or superb parrots are recognized for their talking abilities. A superb parrot is also unique in its coloration and pattern. These birds are susceptible to foot problems and eye infections. Although they are prone to illnesses, their unique mimicking and sociable character make them attractive pets.

Why is it called a superb parrot?

Barraband's parakeets are named after Jaques Barraband's, a French zoological and botanical illustrator. Jacques Barraband's Carolina parakeet illustration is one of his most famous works. Jacques Barraband's parakeet and other such illustrations were considered to be one of the most accurate representations of the animal species during the 1800s.

You can still find access to his works online. The superb parrot is just a common name by which the parakeet is known. They are also commonly known by the name green leek parrot.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these vulture facts and owl facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable barraband parakeet coloring pages.