A broad-tailed parrot is any of about 35 species belonging to the subfamily Platycercinae. The members of the subfamily are small to medium in size, and all are native to Australasia, Australia in particular, but also New Zealand, New Caledonia, and nearby islands.
A distinctive alarm call of kik-kik-kik (usually given while flying), a streamlined body, long tail and flashes of bright red under the wing enable the species to be readily identified.
The genus Lathamus is monotypic and belongs to the subfamily Platycercinae, the broad-tailed parrots which includes the genera Platycercus, Barnadius, Purpreicephalus, Northiella, Psephotus and Neophema (Christidis et al.
Although the swift parrot superficially resembles lorikeets in habit and form (nectar feeder with brush tongue), it is generally accepted that the similarities between the swift parrot and the lorikeets have arisen through convergence (Smith 1975, Forshaw 1981, Christidis and Boles 1994, Gartrell et al.
Feeds |
Contact