The Rock Parrot, which is also known as Rock Elegant Parakeet is a cute and chubby bird that originates from Australia.
The Rock Parrot (Neophema petrophila), also known as Rock Elegant Parakeet, is a cute and lovely bird that lives in Australia. This chubby and attractive bird belongs to the Grass Parrot family.
Rock parrot got its name in 1841 by a bird specialist John Gould as Euphema petrophila. The ‘petrophila’ is derived from 2 Greek words. Petros which means ‘rock’ and Philos, ‘loving’.
The favorite places for the rock parrot are coastal dune areas and rocky islands. Unlike other parrots, these birds prefer to make their nests in rocky places or burrows, an example would be Rottnest Island, Australia.
A rock parrot may require more attention and care than other birds of his family, but in return for your love and care, you can hope to get a fluffy feathered buddy.
Homeland
The Rock Parrot comes from the rocky shore of south and west Australia. Their major population is distributed in 2 regions.
- Western Australia, they are present from Arid National Park to Geraldton.
- South Australia, they are present from Kingston to Ceduna.
Scientific classification
- Scientific name: Neophema petrophila
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Class: Aves
- Order: Psittaciformes
- Family: The rock parrot belongs to “Psittaculidae”
- Genus: Neophema
- Species: N. petrophila
Characteristics and features
- Common names: rock parakeet, rock elegant parrot, rock grass-parakeet.
- Color: A rock parrot is a small bird with primarily olive-brown upper parts and yellowish underparts. The color of the head is olive and there is a bright blue line across its peak that gradually disappears above and below the peak.
- Size and Weight: They are mostly present in small sizes and look cute. The rock parrot is 22-24 cm (8 – 9 in) in length have 50-60 g (1.5 – 2 oz) weight.
- Lifespan: Rock parrots can be your feathered companion for a long time. If they are given special care, the average lifespan is more than 20 years.
- Egg clutch: 4-6 eggs
Other birds of the same genus
There are 6 parrots that belong to the genus ‘Neophema’. One of them is rock parrot. The other 5 parrots are:
Blue-winged Parrot – Neophema chrysostoma
The blue-winged parrot is a small parrot that lives in Australia and Tasmania. These birds are mostly found in yellow color with light blue wings. The blue-winged parrot is 20-24 cm (7.8 to 10 in) in length.
Scarlet-chested Parrot – Neophema splendida
The Scarlet-chested parrot lives in the south and west Australia. These birds exhibit blue-colored faces while the other parts of the body are mostly observed to be green in color. The scarlet-chested parrot is 20 cm (8 in) in length.
Elegant Parrot – Neophema elegans
The Elegant parrot, also known as the Elegant Parakeet, is also native to Australia. These parrots are found in golden olive color with the blue frontal line. The elegant parrot is 23 cm (9.1 in) in length.
Turquoise Parrot – Neophema pulchella
The Turquoise parrot is found mostly in Eastern Australia. They have a green-yellowish color with blue wings. These birds are approximately 20 cm (8 in) in size.
Orange-bellied Parrot – Neophema chrysogaster
The Orange-bellied parrot is a parrot that lives in Southern Australia. Like a turquoise parrot, they are also 20 cm (8 in) in length. These parrots exhibit green face, yellow underparts and orange belly spot.
Nutrition and diet
Some of the foots that Rock Parrot loves to eat:
- Fruits
- Seeds
- Shrubs
- Salt-tolerant plants
- Rushes
- Grasses
Rock parrots usually eat in the morning or in late afternoon. Consider to provide a balanced diet for your parrot, as you do not want your already chubby parrot to become even bulkier.
Rock parrot in wildness
These fluffy birds usually make nests in rock crevices, eat fresh fruits, seeds, insects from the different vacant areas and planes and when they feel tired, they make beautiful flights to refresh themselves.
Rock parrot in captivity
In captivity, rock parrots cannot really enjoy the freedom and have to follow the routine that is set by the owner of the bird. They will be required to provide a nest box or log. Besides this, food and the freedom to fly will be decided by the owner of the bird.
Some owners may not provide their birds with full health facilities and proper time and that may lead to the death of these birds due to various diseases.
Common health problems
Their life span is around 20 years, but with a good diet and good care, a Rock Parrot could live more than that. Besides an airy cage, they require liberty of movement around the accommodation.
Behavior and personality
These strange parrots are quite sharp and will become nosy little discoverers if allowed. They are mostly found in pairs or groups and love to make flights together. Even if the Rock Parrot is quiet and friendly by nature, they still need our affection.
Every bird owner should spend enough time to socialize with his fellow friend. A healthy and active bird is a happy bird.
Common questions about Rock Parrots
How do a Rock Parrot sounds?
The rock parrot is not a noisy bird. They mostly remain quiet and calm and due to this quality, many people prefer to take these beautiful parrots in their houses. During feeding or making flights, they might make a little noise chattering, but that is not irritating at all for most people.
Where do Rock Parrots breed?
The Rock Parrot breeds typically on coastal islands, in a tunnel, rock crevice, vacant seabird nesting hole, or a stony bulge often behind a screen of juicy bushes. The females sit on the eggs while the male feeds her.
How much does a Rock Parrot Cost?
You can expect to buy a rock parrot for around 200 USD. Sometimes, the appearance may change the amount.
Want to adopt a Rock Parrot?
If you feel that a rock parrot is a pet you were looking for and want to adopt it, check out the following:
In short, rock parrots are very caring and supportive birds. If you are thinking to adopt these parrots, make sure you can afford their needs and food because care is important for every living thing whether it is a human, bird or animal. They can expect to live with you for more than 20 years if you exercise special care for their health.
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