Turquoise Parrot

1. Male’s entirely blue face and forehead, contrasting with yellow underbelly and green back

2. Blue shoulder patch and wing edges, with a chestnut-red wing patch (males only)

3. Ground-feeding behaviour in small groups at forest or woodland edges

Turquoise Parrots are predomitly ground feeders, foraging on seeds of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, as well as flowers, fruits, and occasionally scale insects. They are usually seen in pairs or small groups, rarely forming large flocks except in winter. Breeding occurs mainly from August to December, with some pairs producing second broods in April–May. Nests are established in tree hollows, stumps, logs, or even fence posts, usually 1–3 meters above ground. Females lay 2–6 eggs (usually 4–5), incubating them for about 18–23 days, with chicks fledging after 24–30 days. Both parents feed the young, and juveniles may remain with parents while the female starts a second clutch. Their preference for edge habitats makes them especially vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and changes in fire management.

The Turquoise Parrot is found from inland southeastern Queensland, across New South Wales, to north-central Victoria, mainly in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range and adjacent plains. It inhabits open woodland and grassy forest, often favouring ecotones between forest and grassland, especially where white box (*Eucalyptus albens*) and other eucalypts are present. The species is sedentary but may show local nomadism in response to water and food availability.