Swift Parrot

Name: Codi
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The beautiful Swift Parrot: facing the threat of extinction

The Swift parrot is a species of broad-tailed parrot only found in south-eastern Australia. It breeds in Tasmania during summer and moves north to New South Wales and Victoria in winter. It is one of just three migratory parrots on earth.

With only around 500-750 individuals left in the world, the Swift parrot is critically endangered. It's main threat is habitat loss due to human activities, and the introduced sugar glider praying on nesting adults and chicks.

Species Name

Swift Parrot

Species Nicknames

Swifties

Species Scientific Name

Lathamus discolor

Species Family

Bird. Psittacidae family, which includes all parrots, cockatoos, and related birds.

Species Description

The Swift Parrot is a medium sized parrot with pointed wings and a purplish red tail. Its body is mostly lime green with a darkish blue patch on the head, the throat and forehead is deeper red. There are also red feathers at the bend of the wing.

Swift parrots in hollow tree. By: Rob Blakers

Species Size

23-25cm long

Species Interesting information

Swift parrots are an incredible bird. Did you know that they can sleep and eat while in the air?

Species Habitat

They spend breeding seasons on Bruny Island. When that is over they form big groups of about three hundred to fly over to NSW and VIC. They break up into smaller groups while crossing the Bass Straight.

Species Food

They have nectar in small groups or large ones, and they especially enjoy Tasmania’s blue gum, and insects found on eucalyptus leaves. These feeding groups can be very noisy because the birds talk and chatter and bicker each other. They also chase each other around the trees.

Species Breeding/Reproduction

The swift parrot spends the breeding months, February to March, nesting in trees on the east coast of Tasmania. After the breeding season is over large flocks of up to several hundred birds meet to fly as a group to move to northern Victoria and NSW. The break the big group into smaller ones of 10 to 20 to cross the Bass Strait.

Species Distribution

These birds spend most of their time on mainland Australia but in February and March they come down to the east coast of Tasmania to breed.

Species Status
Critically Endangered

Species Threats

The swift parrot is critically endangered, with the population estimated to be around 500-750 individuals. The species faces extinction due to threats like habitat loss from logging, nest predation by introduced sugar gliders, and climate change.

Species Where to See

You can find the swift parrot on Bruny Island or Eastern Tasmania, North Victoria or NSW.

Species Resources