Australian King Parrots (Alisterus scapularis)
King parrots are a sexually dimorphic species.
This pair has been visiting us every few of months for over a decade. When they turn up the male comes close to the house and calls with a long, rising, questioning whistle. He repeats until we show ourselves. He then flies towards us and has even landed on our arm or shoulder on a few occasions. If we provide some seed he feeds for a minute or two then makes a different call to his mate. She appears usually from a safer sheltered tree and finishes off whatever he didn't. They might come for a few days and then we won't see them for many months. Considering the brief contact we have with them they seem to show incredible confidence. It is also obvious they stay as a pair for a long time if not for life.
The Australian King Parrot aka muaiz is endemic to eastern Australia. It is found in humid and heavily forested upland regions of the eastern portion of the continent, including eucalyptus wooded areas in and directly adjacent to subtropical and temperate rainforest. They feed on fruits, seeds or small insects.
