Regent Parrot (eastern subspecies) - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Profile last updated: 05 Oct 2023

Description

The Regent Parrot is a slim medium-sized parrot (37 to 42 cm) with a long narrow tail and pointed backswept wings. It is mostly yellow with contrasting blue-black wings and tail, a prominent yellow shoulder patch and red patches in the wings and under the tail. The females plumage is duller and greener than the male. It is often first detected in flight by its distinctive call, described as a harsh rolling 'carrack-carrack'.

Distribution

The eastern subspecies is restricted to areas around the Murray River in South Australia, Victoria and NSW. In NSW it occurs along the Murray River downstream of Tooleybuc (though there are few records between Mildura and the South Australian border), the Wakool River downstream of Kyalite, and the Murrumbidgee River immediately upstream from the junction with the Murray River and adjoining areas of mallee. There are scattered records along the Darling River as far north as Menindee, but at this stage the species has not been confirmed to breed along this river. The nominate subspecies occurs in south western Western Australia.

Habitat and ecology

The species nests within River Red Gum forests along the Murray, Wakool and lower Murrumbidgee Rivers, and possibly the Darling River downstream of Pooncarie. Typical nest trees are large, mature healthy trees with many spouts (though dead trees are used) and are usually located close to a watercourse.
Principal foraging habitat is mallee woodlands, though foraging also occurs in riverine forests and woodlands. Mallee woodland within 20 kilometres of nesting sites is critical foraging habitat for breeding birds.
They may utilise cereal crops and will feed on spilt grain. Is claimed to be a pest in almond orchards.
Birds move between the riverine nesting habitat and foraging sites along corridors of natural vegetation.
Outside the breeding season birds may move away from the riverine plain, with birds observed in mallee over 60 kilometres from the river. However, there are very few records in NSW away from the Murray River during the non-breeding season and it has been speculated that most birds may join non-breeding flocks in Victoria.
Breeding is colonial with up to 27 nests within the colony. Nests are usually within 150 metres of each other and up to five nests have been recorded in a single tree.
Usually occurs in pairs or small parties, though may form larger flocks during the non-breeding season. Despite its size it can be quite cryptic and frequently sits quietly within trees and can only be detected by occasional calls.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

The major threat is the loss of mallee woodland within 20 kilometres of the Murray River.
The parrots require good connectivity of covered habitat within breeding habitat and between breeding and foraging habitat; currently the landscape is highly fragmented and hence only a few narrow movement corridors exist.
Illegal egg collecting or removal of chicks from nests may result in the destruction of nest hollows and can impact upon populations through the loss or death of individual birds. However, the current level of this threat in NSW is currently unknown.
Birds may feed on roadsides and thus be at risk of being struck by vehicles.
Competition for nest hollows with feral honeybees can result in the abandonment of nest sites.
Both breeding and foraging habitat is threatened by rising groundwater, with areas upstream of Euston Weir particularly affected.
Harvesting of river red gum has the potential to result in the loss of nest trees and limit the recruitment of new nest trees.
Harvesting of mallee for charcoal may reduce the suitability of these sites as foraging habitat.
Grazing has the potential to reduce the quality of foraging habitat.
The impact of fire management on this species is unknown, but as fire is an important component in mallee ecosystems, it is likely that inappropriate fire regimes may impact on foraging habitat.
Regent Parrots have been persecuted in almond orchards in Victoria and South Australia because of damage done to ripening crops. Although almond production is relatively small in NSW, the birds may be from NSW breeding colonies.
Lack of environmental water leading habitat degradation via reduction in the condition and recruitment of nest-trees (river red-gums).

Recovery strategies

A targeted strategy for managing this species has been developed under the Saving Our Species program; click here for details. For more information on the Saving Our Species program click here

Activities to assist this species

Implementation of appropriate fire regimes in mallee is necessary for the continued health of foraging habitat but breeding habitat should not be burnt. Maintain mosaic of different fire ages, including large areas of long unburnt, to provide opportunity for different food resources to flourish. No more than 5% of the area should be burnt in a single year, and no more than 15% in five years. Following occurrence of wildfire, monitoring is required prior to additional ecological burns.
Manage vegetation clearance in breeding and foraging habitat as well as flightpaths connecting the two, so as impacts of clearing are minimised.
Forestry operations in both River Red Gum and mallee should be managed to minimise impacts on this species. This may include promoting the development of large, old redgums as a source of future nest sites by retaining and managing medium sized trees and restricting the harvesting of mallee within suitable foraging habitat.
Fence rehabilitated riparian areas to prevent grazing of vegetation and erosion of stream banks.
All nests and colonies should be protected from clearing, logging and disturbance.
Protect stands of River Red Gum that contain numerous large old trees and that have the potential to support breeding colonies.
Restore or rehabilitate corridors of native vegetation that link nesting and foraging habitat.
Investigate the impact of honeybees on this species, and if required, implement actions to reduce the impacts (particularly of feral honeybees).
Investigate impacts of Regent Parrots on almond production and, if necessary, develop guidelines to minimise impacts on horticultural crops.
Develop Euston Weir pool operating level guidelines to reduce impact of rapid river rises on nest trees.
Prepare and implement a Regent Parrot Grain Spill Strategy.

Information sources

Baker-Gabb, D. and Hurley, V.G. (2011) National Recovery Plan for the Regent Parrot (eastern subspecies) Polytelis anthopeplus monarchoides. (Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne)
Higgins, P.J. (ed.) (1999) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 4: Parrots to Dollarbird.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Darling Riverine Plains	Great Darling Anabranch	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Menindee	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Pooncarie-Darling	Known	None
Murray Darling Depression	South Olary Plain	Known	Within 30 km of the Murray and Murrumbidge Rivers
Other State	SA	Known	None
Other State	VIC	Known	None
Riverina	Lachlan	Known	Within 20km of the Murrumbidgee River
Riverina	Murray Fans	Known	Along Wakool River west of Kyalite
Riverina	Murray Scroll Belt	Known	None
Riverina	Murrumbidgee	Known	Within 10 km of the junction of the Murray River
Riverina	Robinvale Plains	Known	None

Sounds

Images

Regent Parrot (eastern sub species), Damon Oliver Image 1 of 7.
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