Bourk´s Parakeet

(Neopsephoptus Bourkii)












                                                       
Contents of this Page (Push at the subject)
About the Bourk´s Parakeet
How to take care
Breeding

                                                       

















Original Country:
 Bourk´s Parakeet live in Southern and Central Australia. You can find them in arid and semi-arid regions of open Scrubland with Thorn Bushes and especially Mulga ( Acacia aneura).
They live in pairs or groups of 10 to 30 Birds outside breeding saeson, occasionally in Flocks of 200 and more when Food readily avaiable. They are difficult to see on Reddish ground of Mulga Scrublands because of camouflage Plumage. It feeds mainly on the Ground. and then not shy allowing close approach. Bourk´s Parakeet forages in early Morning and late Afternoon. It drinks from Troughs, Fountains or in Gardens before Dawn and then again at dusk. It is a nomadic Bird. It produces soft chattering sound. Quiet during feeding.
The Food consists of Grass Seeds, Herbaceous Plants , Bushes and Trees.
They have their Nest in hollow Trees or Branches mostly between 1 m and 3 m above Ground.
They are named after the Place(Fort Bourk) where they were discovered for the first time Bourk.




There is only one type of Bourk´s Parakeet,
but a lot of different Mutionsvariations,
as I don´t want to mention here.








Male:


Forehead and small streaks above Eye Blue. Lores, Eye area and Front Cheeks Whitish. Remainder of Cheeks and Throat Dull Pink. Each Feather with Brownish edge. Breast Feathers Brownish with Broad Pink edging. Abdomen Pink. Head, Back and Wing-coverts Olive-brown with pale edging. Lower Back and Median upper Tail-coverts brownish Black. Thighs and under Tail-coverts pale Blue. Primaries Blackish with Violet-blue outer Webs. Underside of Tail dull Whitish. Upperside og Middle Tailfeathers Brownish Black. Outer Feathers dull Blue on outer Webs. White on underwing absent or faint. Bill Blackish. Iris Dark Brown. Feet Dark Brown.


Female:


Female as Male, but generally duller, particularly Blue on forehead. Pink edging to Breast narrower. White Wing stripe is  present.


Weight:

Male: 47 - 49 g   ;    Female :  41 - 49 g
                                                                                                                      


Life Span:

  Between 8 - 15 Years                        
  
  It is a peaceful Bird, who has a soft chattering sound
     and it is very lively in early Morning and late Evening..  






















How to take care:

                                                                                                                      

                                                             
There are no problems in keeping this Bird, because it can get along fine with other spicies of small Birds. It is susceptible to cold and wet conditions. Bourk´s Parakeet requires worming once or twice a Year.
The Aviary must at least be 1× 3 × 2 m. Large Aviary can be planted.
The Food consists of Finch Seed Mix, Various Millets, Greeneries and Fruit. Sprouted Seed gives a supplement of Vitamins.


Apple
Grape


Lettuce




Finch Seed Mix
Dandelion
















Bourk´s Parakeet together with Gouldian Finch, Chestnut-breastet Mannikin,and Red-headed Parrot Finch



























Breeding:  

                                                                                 


The Nest Boxe must be about 30 cm high and 15 × 15 cm at the Bottom. They prefer to breed in the Spring. Nesting material  can be Wooddust, Sawdust or Shavings.
They always must have different Nets Boxes to choose from.
Bourke´s Parakeets achieve sexual maturity between 1 and 2 years of age.
The Female lays 3 to 6 Eggs. Eggmeasures 20.7 × 17.3 mm. Incubation takes about 18 days. The Fledging period is about 28 days. The young birds continue to be fed by parents for 8 to 10 days after leaving the Nest. Remain therafter in Family group.
2 to 3 breedings a Year are possible.


Breeding colour varieties


The Nest inside and their eggs








2 weeks old

1.1 med young birds