Photo: Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Swift Parrot
Lathamus discolor
Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) — Parrots & Cockatoos of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) is a member of the Psittaculidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 64.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Psittaciformes
- Family Psittaculidae Old World Parrots
- Genus Lathamus
- Species discolor
Quick facts
- Weight
- 64.7 g
- Diet
- Nectar-feeders
- Family
- Psittaculidae
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Swift Parrot is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Swift Parrot is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) is a species of bird in the Psittaculidae family, part of the order Psittaciformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU e Tasmania (se Australia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 64.7 g, with a wing length of about 12.3 cm and a tail of around 12 cm.
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 12,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Swift Parrot?
The Swift Parrot is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 64.7 g.
Where does the Swift Parrot live?
The Swift Parrot is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU e Tasmania (se Australia), where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Swift Parrot belong to?
The Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) belongs to the Psittaculidae family, in the order Psittaciformes.
What does the Swift Parrot eat?
The Swift Parrot is a nectarivore — it feeds mainly on nectar.
Does the Swift Parrot migrate?
The Swift Parrot is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Swift Parrot endangered?
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Swift Parrot make?
1 real field recording of the Swift 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 Swift Parrot's range?
The Swift Parrot has a mapped global range of about 12,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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Least Concern
Vulnerable
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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.