Bourke's Parakeet

Neopsephotus bourkii · Psittaculidae

Crepuscular, near-silent, and the most peaceable parrot in the aviary.

Native range: Arid inland Australia

Diet

Small-seed mix with sprouted seed, greens and seeding grasses. They forage on the ground, so keep floors clean.

180 × 80 × 100 cm; they fly horizontally and need length rather than height. Bar spacing 12 mm.

Gentle to the point of being pushed around. Ideal in a mixed flight with finches or other Neophemas, poor with anything assertive.

Undemanding breeders. Most active at dawn and dusk, so check nests in the middle of the day.

Rosa / opaline (recessive)

Lutino (sex-linked)

Fallow (recessive)

Cream (multiple loci)

–Ground feeding means worm burden: treat routinely

–Bullied by more assertive species

–Cold, damp housing causes respiratory disease

–Quiet nature masks illness; weigh regularly

Their crepuscular habit is genuine and not a captivity artefact. Expect activity at first and last light and a bird that sits quietly in between.

Jump to another species

Species	Incubation	Ring	Clutch	Lifespan
CockatielNymphicus hollandicus	19 d	5.5 mm	4–6	15–25 years
BudgerigarMelopsittacus undulatus	18 d	4.0 mm	4–6	6–12 years
Peach-faced LovebirdAgapornis roseicollis	23 d	4.5 mm	4–6	10–15 years
Green-cheeked ConurePyrrhura molinae	24 d	5.5 mm	4–6	20–30 years
Indian RingneckPsittacula krameri	23 d	7.0 mm	3–5	25–35 years
Gouldian FinchChloebia gouldiae	14 d	Not recorded	4–8	5–8 years
Quaker / Monk ParakeetMyiopsitta monachus	24 d	6.0 mm	4–6	20–30 years
Bourke's ParakeetNeopsephotus bourkii	18 d	4.0 mm	3–6	10–15 years
EclectusEclectus roratus	28 d	Not recorded	2	30–50 years
Sun ConureAratinga solstitialis	25 d	7.0 mm	3–5	20–30 years
African GreyPsittacus erithacus	28 d	11.0 mm	2–4	40–60 years
Blue & Gold MacawAra ararauna	27 d	14.0 mm	2–3	50–70 years

All 94 species, with the dates scheduled against your own birds.