Princess Parrot
(Polytelis alexandrae)

Family: Psittacidae, and a member of the sub-family Psittacinae. The Princess parrot is one of the three members of the genus Polytelis that have extremely long, gradational tails.

Range: wide but scattered distribution in interior of western and central Australia

Habitat: sandy desert, arid woodland and scrublands

Size: adults are 15.7-18.9 inches (40-48 cm) in length and weigh 3.9-4.2 ounces (110-120 g)

Description: P. alexandrae is a medium to large parrot with much pastel coloration; females have a duller coloration. Males have light blue or blue-gray colors on their heads, breast and abdomen. Contrasting this are a pink throat and neck, with pink and blue-tinted thighs. The back and wings of males are olive-green with lime-green wing coverts. The underwing coverts are blue-violet. The tail feathers of males are green with blue, gray and pink tones. The bill is red, while the feet are dark gray. Females are smaller and weigh less than males. Additionally, females differ from males in that they have a shorter and greener tail and a gray-lavender crown.

Life Span: thought to be as long as 20 - 30 years

Diet: eats mainly seeds of grasses and herbaceous plants, especially spinifex, but also blossoms and leaves.

Status: vulnerable but difficult to assess, given large range and very scattered populations with nomadic movement. Listed as near threatened on CITES II, with a wild population estimate of 5,000 individuals.