Photo: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Mulga Parrot
Psephotellus varius
Mulga Parrot (Psephotellus varius) — Parrots & Cockatoos of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Mulga Parrot (Psephotellus varius) is a member of the Psittaculidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 61.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Psittaciformes
- Family Psittaculidae Old World Parrots
- Genus Psephotellus
- Species varius
Where it lives
West-central, southwestern WA to south-central QLD and northwestern VIC (southern, central Australia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 61.5 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Psittaculidae
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Mulga Parrot is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Mulga Parrot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Mulga Parrot (Psephotellus varius) belongs to the Psittaculidae family of the order Psittaciformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU wc, sw WA to sc QLD and nw VIC (s, c Australia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 61.5 g, with a wing length of about 13.4 cm and a tail of around 15.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Mulga Parrot?
The Mulga Parrot is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 61.5 g.
Where does the Mulga Parrot live?
The Mulga Parrot is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU wc, sw WA to sc QLD and nw VIC (s, c Australia), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Mulga Parrot belong to?
The Mulga Parrot (Psephotellus varius) belongs to the Psittaculidae family, in the order Psittaciformes.
What does the Mulga Parrot eat?
The Mulga Parrot is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Mulga Parrot migrate?
The Mulga Parrot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Mulga Parrot endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Mulga Parrot make?
1 real field recording of the Mulga Parrot — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Mulga Parrot's range?
The Mulga Parrot has a mapped global range of about 3.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Psittaculidae
A field guide to the Psittaculidae family — 202 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.