Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor)
Photo: Marthijn de Kool
Description
- The Swift Parrot is a small, bright green parrot that’s around 25 cm long.
- It has a dusky red tail, red forehead, throat with yellow edges, and blue on its crown and cheeks.
- Swift Parrots feed in the outer parts of Eucalyptus trees.
- They eat nectar, psyllids, lerps, seeds, and fruit.
- These parrots are often found in small groups around flowering Eucalyptus trees.
Find out more about the Swift Parrot on Canberra NatureMapr.
Where to find them
- They're mainly found in the Grassy Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus) forest in eastern Tasmania during the breeding season. They only breed in Tasmania, where they nest in the hollows of older Eucalyptus trees.
- Swift Parrots migrate to mainland Australia in winter, following the flowering patterns of Eucalyptus trees and lerps.
- They can be found in Eucalyptus forests and woodlands, such as Box-ironbark areas and Yellow Box–red Gum woodlands.
- Small numbers have occasionally been seen across the ACT, usually in areas below 700 m altitude.
- In the last 25 years, they've mostly been spotted in inner Canberra suburbs, Gungahlin, and Hall.
Conservation threats
Across Australia, the number of Swift Parrots has been reduced to about 500 individuals. The main reasons are reduced breeding and feeding areas in Tasmania. This has happened due to increased clearing for forestry agriculture and urban development.
Their habitats in the ACT are also reducing. Woodland clearing means there are less places for the Swift Parrot to find food.
Conservation status
- National – Critically endangered (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).
- Australian Capital Territory – Critically endangered (Nature Conservation Act 2014).
Conservation actions
Conservation actions aim to:
- identify their current and possible habitats
- regenerate their habitats
- monitor their trends and status
- research more ways to help them survive
- collaborate across Australia to conserve this species
- educate and involve the community to raise awareness.