Princess Parrot

Looks how to spot one

feathers

A slender, elegant parrot with a long tail. The male has a bright blue crown, pastel blue sides to the head, olive-green upperparts, a violet-blue rump, a rose-pink throat and chin, a grey-yellow breast, and a pink-mauve abdomen. The bill is coral-red. The female is duller overall, with a shorter tail and less yellow on the wing.12

Personality what they are like

Princess parrots are among the calmest and quietest parrots kept in aviculture. They are gentle, easy-going and not aggressive, though they can be flighty and easily startled. Hand-reared individuals become friendly, endearing pets that respond well to their owners.34

Daily activity how busy a day looks

They need a large flight or walk-in aviary (minimum length 4.5 m) with multiple perches of varying sizes to encourage flying and exercise. They are not destructive chewers, so a planted aviary is appreciated.12

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Provide clean water daily. Worming twice a year is recommended because these birds feed on the ground and may pick up worms. They are not heavy chewers, so aviary maintenance is straightforward.3

Home where they are happiest

A large aviary with space to fly is essential. They prefer a walk-in enclosure at least 4.5 m long. They are not aggressive and can share with Neophema parrots, but may chase smaller birds from perches. Provide hessian or cut branches at aviary ends to prevent injury when young birds first fly.12

Food basics what goes in the bowl

A small seed mix (canary, millet, oats, buckwheat, safflower, a little hemp) with limited sunflower seed. Supplement daily with green leaves (Swiss chard, lettuce, dandelion, chickweed), seeding grasses, sprouted seed, and fruits such as apple, pear, banana and orange. Formulated pellets can be used as a base. Avoid damp or clumped seeds and bread.145

Company who they like around

They are social and do well in pairs or small groups. They are not aggressive and can be housed with other peaceful species. Hand-reared birds bond to their owners and can be taught to talk and whistle with patience. They are not big talkers but are inquisitive and friendly.32

The story where it all began

The princess parrot was first discovered in 1862 by the Stuart Exploratory Expedition at Howell's Pond in central Australia. It was named Polytelis alexandrae in 1863 by John Gould in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who later became Queen of England. The species was once considered rare in aviculture but, thanks to dedicated breeders, became widely available. By the late 1980s, over 12,000 were held in South Australian aviaries alone. Today it is a popular and successful aviary bird around the world.2

Recognised by the official bits

How many 900-10,000 mature individuals in the wild, stable.1