Our 2013 Birdorable Bonanza rolls on with the addition of a new parakeet species! Today's Bonanza bird is the Blossom-headed Parakeet.
The Blossom-headed Parakeet is a beautiful species of parrot found in India and parts of Southeast Asia. These gregarious birds prefer a forested habitat. Groups roost communally and feed together; they nest in tree cavities.
La Perruche à collier noir by François Levaillant (public domain)
Blossom-headed Parakeets are closely related to the similar-looking Plum-headed Parakeet. Male Blossom-headed Parakeets have a pinkish head; females heads are a dull blue-grey color. Blossoms are part of the diet of these birds - they are what they eat!
Tomorrow we'll add an African bird of prey. What do you think of this silhouette?
Today a beautiful parrot from Australia joins Birdorable: the Eastern Rosella!
Eastern Rosellas are colorful parrots that live in southeastern parts of Australia, including Tasmania. Their beautiful plumage is a mix of red, yellow, blue, green, orange, black, and white. In their native range, they sometimes visit back yard feeding stations.
eastern rosella by jeaniephelan
These colorful birds are cavity nesters. They nest in tree hollows, but will also use nest boxes, as you can see in this cute video. An adult tends to a juvenile in the box.
Eastern Rosella Family by JayEL58 on
Tomorrow's species is a bird of prey known for its wide gape. Can you guess what it will be?
Today’s bird is the 19th and final species in this year's Birdorable Bonanza! It is also our 350th Birdorable bird - introducing the Birdorable Carolina Parakeet!
The Carolina Parakeet was a colorful species of parrot native to the southeastern United States that is now unfortunately extinct. The last captive bird died in 1918, with the last wild birds dying out around that time or earlier. The Carolina Parakeet was a beautiful bird, with a green-blue body and warmer reds, oranges and yellows around the face. They used their powerful beaks to feed on seeds and fruit pits.
For 18 days we're adding a new Birdorable bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza 2010. Today's bird is the Chattering Lory. The Chattering Lory is a beautiful species of parrot native to parts of Indonesia. They have gorgeous bright red heads and bodies, with green wings and orange beaks.
Chattering Lory by dbillian
Tomorrow's bird is a beautiful North American duck. Can you guess what it is?
For 18 days we're adding a new Birdorable bird every day as part of our Birdorable Bonanza 2010. Today's bird is the Palm Cockatoo! Palm Cockatoos are very distinctive-looking parrots. They are slate-grey in color, with a featherless, bright red cheek. Their bills are extremely large, and they sport a long, scraggly grey head crest. Because of their rare beauty, Palm Cockatoos are very popular in aviculture. Despite their relatively small native range in Australia, the wild population is stable and not considered threatened.