Red-rumped Parakeet
(Psephotus haematonotus haematonotus)

The Red-rumped Parakeet was first described by Gould in 1838. It is mainly green on the forehead, crown and lower cheeks; breast is yellowish green, abdomen is a stronger yellow, nape and back blue green, rump is red (hence the name). The female is a duller olive gray green. They are found over most of southeast Australia. The species is very common in the wild. There is also a subspecies (P.h. caeruleus); called the "Paler Red-rumped Parrot"; which is a paler more bluish version of the nominate species.

They are easy to breed in captivity and many mutations have occurred in the USA. There are Yellows (limes), Pieds, Lutinos, Albinos, Blues & Opalines. There may be others I don't know about. There are many more mutations available in Australia and Europe.

The diet I use for my birds is a good quality cockatiel mix; also a separate bowl for millet, millet sprays, greens and egg food. I also give mine willow & fruit tree branches especially when budding for the birds to chew on.

IN the wild the breeding season is form August to January (Australian spring & summer). In captivity it can occur any time. Pairs will lay clutches of 4-7 eggs; incubation is normally 19-21 days & normally begins after the second or third egg laid. Only the female incubates the clutch with the male feeding the hen on the nest at hourly intervals. The fledgling period is around 28-30 days & the young are normally independent in another two weeks. The young should then be removed from the parents cage/flight; as the pair will usually re-nest then.

Red-rumped parakeets can be kept & bred in cages or flights. I use 4'X3'X2' flight cages for mine. The Red-rumped Parakeets also make excellent foster parents for other larger parakeets.

                                                                                                        
Australian Species                                                                                                                           Red-rumped