www.birdkeeper.dk

.... WHEN PARROTS BECOME A PASSION

Bluebonnet Parakeets


An overview over the articles about the Northiella genus

Under this tab you can read the following articles:

Species Overview of Bluebonnet Parakeets

Species Overview of Bluebonnet Parakeets

Here you will get an overview of the different types of Bluebonnet Parakeets, hereinafter simply Bluebonnets.

Back to Home

Back to Home

Yellow-vented Bluebonnet

Yellow-vented Bluebonnet

Here you can read about the nominate subspecies - the species - of Bluebonnet, which can be difficult to find in a purebred version in human care in Europe.

Red-vented Bluebonnet

Red-vented Bluebonnet

This is the most brightly coloured and therefore also the most widespread subspecies found in human care.

Pallid Bluebonnet

Pallid Bluebonnet

This is probably the most unknown subspecies of Bluebonnet in human care. Photo from the internet.

Naretha Bluebonnet

Naretha Bluebonnet

This subspecies, which as the only one of a total of 4 different types does not have the characteristic red belly spot, occurs extremely rarely in human care and is also a very expensive bird. Photo from the internet.

About Bluebonnets in general

In these articles you can read about one of the most entertaining and exciting parakeets in human care, the Australian Northiella genus.


The genus Bluebonnet Parakeets (Northiella) belonged years ago to the genus Red-rumped Parakeets (Psephotus). However, there are marked differences between the genus Bluebonnet and the genus of Red-rumped Parakeets, i.a. the Bluebonnets are somewhat larger and heavier birds, just as they have a different wing formula and have a significantly different - more pompous - and very conspicuous behaviour. In addition, there is no immediate visual dimorphism (i.e. visible difference) between the sexes, as is known in the genus Red-rumped Parakeets, cf. however below.


This genus has particularly attracted my attention, as it is brightly coloured in its own special way, to which is added its very lively, entertaining and often almost playful behaviour. The latter makes the Bluebonnet particularly attractive compared to many other Australian parakeets, which outside the breeding season can be quite sedentary and monotonous in their behaviour. The Bluebonnets are also extremely hardy birds that, like mainland birds, can withstand low temperatures, but not moisture and drafts. Its less good aspects include that the males are often very aggressive, and therefore they can only be kept in pairs alone in an aviary. The aggressive behaviour is probably the main reason why these birds have not gained even greater popularity in human care.


In the above mentioned articles you - among many other things - can read about:


  • About the applicable biological classification for the genus Bluebonnet (Northiella) under Species Overview.
  • About the nominate subspecies, Yellow-vented Bluebonnet, i.a. about the national program previously established in Germany to protect pure-species specimens in human care.
  • About the most widespread subspecies in human care, the Red-vented Bluebonnet, which is the absolute most colourful of all the forms, and around which a great deal of breeding work is done to make them as "red" as possible.
  • About the Pallid Bluebonnet, which is considered by some to be a variant of the nominate subspecies, but which is in fact a scientifically recognized subspecies.
  • About the subspecies, Naretha Bluebonnet, which is a great rarity in human care, but certainly not in the wild, and which, until the colonization of Australia, has lived in vast desert-like areas without access to surface water.


These birds are under no circumstances suitable to be kept in cages, but only in aviaries in pairs alone. In a large aviary, its flying skills come into play, and you will only experience the positive aspects of its behaviour when the pair is kept alone in the aviary.


Australia is home to some of the world's most beautiful parrot species, including parakeets, so it has been very surprising to learn that the country's post office has issued relatively few stamps featuring Australian parrots. Unfortunately, these stamp issues do not include Bluebonnets, either under the Psephotus or Northiella genus names, so in this article we regrettably have to limit ourselves to illustrating these birds via photos.

 

 

Jorgen Petersen

 


Conceived/Updated: 05.12.2010 / 29.01.2024 


IT IS NOT ALLOWED TO COPY PHOTOS OR TEXT FROM THIS SITE WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN ACCEPTANCE!