The colourful princess parrot is an Australian bird of the parrot family. Its name was given in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark, who in 1863 married the Prince of Wales Edward VII and eventually became Queen of the United Kingdom. Other names for the species include: Queen Alexandra parrot, Alexandra's parakeet, Princess of Wales parakeet, rose-throated parakeet, and spinifex parrot. Their plumage is mostly green with a pink throat, bluish crown and rump, and bright green shoulders.
Region
Australian arid interior
Typical Environment
Occurs patchily across the deserts of Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and northwestern South Australia. It favors spinifex grasslands, open Acacia and Eucalyptus woodlands, and sand-dune systems with scattered trees. The species is highly nomadic, appearing where rainfall has triggered flowering and seeding. It often stays near ephemeral waterholes and creeklines during dry periods.
Altitude Range
0–600 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 3/5
Named in honor of Princess Alexandra of Denmark, the princess parrot is a seldom-seen, nomadic species of Australia’s arid interior. It often moves long distances after rain to exploit seeding events and may breed opportunistically in good seasons. Males show longer tail streamers and brighter facial colors. It is popular in aviculture, with several color mutations, but it is not domesticated.
A male ("Monty") at Bloedel Conservatory, Vancouver, Canada
A male Princess parrot.
Blue winged mutant Princess Parrot
A blue mutant variety in front of a normal wild type at Flying High Bird Habitat, Australia
A male princess parrot perched on a branch.
Temperament
alert, shy, and moderately social
Flight Pattern
strong flier with swift, direct flight and rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically found in pairs or small, loose flocks that form around food sources after rain. Breeding is opportunistic and often follows good rainfall; nests are placed in tree hollows, including desert eucalypts and acacias. They may nest in loose colonies when conditions are favorable, with both parents attending young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident (highly nomadic within range)
Song Description
Soft, melodious whistles and rolling contact calls that carry over open country. Vocalizations increase during social interactions and courtship, with gentle trills and chirrs.
