Neophema chrysogaster
The Orange-bellied Parrot is a small 'grass parrot' of coastal
south-eastern Australia. It is one of six species of the genus Neophema.
Three related 'grass parrots' (Rock, Blue-winged and Elegant) also
occur in these coastal areas and may be mistaken for the species. They
are olive-green in colour and may have orange on their abdomens, but
none have the grass-green plumage, the distinctive alarm call, and the
bright orange patch of the Orange-bellied Parrot.
The Orange-bellied Parrot was formerly more abundant and widespread
than it is now. It ranged from Yorke Peninsula in South Australia,
along the coasts to Bruny Island in southern Tasmania, and to Sydney,
New South Wales.
The species' current breeding range is a narrow coastal strip of
south-west Tasmania. Most adults depart the breeding range in February,
leaving juveniles to follow in March and April. Adults first reach
Victoria in late March and disperse east as far as coastal South
Gippsland, and as far west as Lake Alexandrina in South Australia, by
April.
Most of the population over-winters in saltmarsh habitat in central
Victoria while the remainder moves west to the coast of South
Australia. In September, the first adults leave the Australian mainland
for Tasmania, with the last birds departed by November.
In Victoria, up to 70% of the entire population concentrates at three
wintering sites around Port Phillip Bay and the Bellarine Peninsula.
According to the Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000, the
Orange-bellied Parrot is critically endangered with approximately 180
mature birds remaining in the wild.
For more information please visit the OBP Mainland Habitat Recovery Project page.
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Conservation 
