Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor)
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Swift Parrot

Lathamus discolor (Shaw, 1790)

23–26 cmLength65 gWeight

The swift parrot (Lathamus discolor), also known by the palawa kani name swift waylitja, is a species of broad-tailed parrot, found only in southeastern Australia.

Busiest months: April–May · Most records: Australia

Critically Endangered

Where and when it's recorded

Swift Parrot has been recorded at 47 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 1 country or region.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. InalaAustralia264 records
  2. Royal ParkAustralia250 records
  3. Mount Annan Botanic GardensAustralia199 records
More places
  1. Lysterfield ParkAustralia150 records
  2. You Yangs Regional ParkAustralia104 records
  3. Callum Brae Nature ReserveAustralia91 records
  4. Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park – ChilternAustralia63 records
  5. La Trobe University Bundoora CampusAustralia59 records
  6. Newport LakesAustralia46 records
  7. Serendip SanctuaryAustralia43 records

Countries and regions with the most records

Australia

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The swift parrot (Lathamus discolor), also known by the palawa kani name swift waylitja, is a species of broad-tailed parrot, found only in southeastern Australia. The species breeds in Tasmania during the summer and migrates north to southeastern mainland Australia from Griffith-Warialda in New South Wales and west to Adelaide in the winter. It is a nomadic migrant, and it settles in an area only when there is food available.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Swift Parrot?

The Swift Parrot is about 23–26 cm long and weighs around 65 g.

Where does the Swift Parrot live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: eastern Tasmania (southeastern Australia). It is most often recorded in Australia.

When is the best time to see the Swift Parrot?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in April and May (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Swift Parrot endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Swift Parrot as Critically Endangered.

What does the Swift Parrot eat?

Main food: Nectar.

What family is the Swift Parrot in?

It belongs to the family Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae), order Parrot (Psittaciformes).

At a glance

Length
23–26 cm
Weight
65 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Nectar
Lifestyle
Perches in trees
Migration
Migratory
Conservation
Critically Endangered
More measurements
Wing
123 mm
Tail
120 mm
Bill
16 mm
Tarsus
14 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: eastern Tasmania (southeastern Australia)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Order
Parrot Psittaciformes
Family
Old World Parrots Psittaculidae
Genus
Lathamus

More from the family Old World Parrots

Pesquet's ParrotPesquet's ParrotPsittrichas fulgidusGreater Vasa ParrotGreater Vasa ParrotCoracopsis vasaSeychelles Black ParrotSeychelles Black ParrotCoracopsis barklyiComoro Black ParrotComoro Black ParrotCoracopsis sibilansLesser Vasa ParrotLesser Vasa ParrotCoracopsis nigraYellow-capped Pygmy ParrotYellow-capped Pygmy ParrotMicropsitta keiensisGeelvink Pygmy ParrotGeelvink Pygmy ParrotMicropsitta geelvinkianaBuff-faced Pygmy ParrotBuff-faced Pygmy ParrotMicropsitta pusioMeek's Pygmy ParrotMeek's Pygmy ParrotMicropsitta meekiFinsch's Pygmy ParrotFinsch's Pygmy ParrotMicropsitta finschii
Swift Parrot

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by David de Groot. ↗

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