Bourke's parrot in exhibit

Bourke’s Parrot

Scientific Name
Neophema bourkii
Class
Aves
Order
Psittaciformes
Range
Interior regions of Australia
Habitat
Scrublands and savannas
Estimated Wild Population
n/a
Bourke's parrot in exhibit Endangered Status Graph - Least Concern Endangered Status Graph - Least Concern

More Information

Physical Description

Bourke’s parrots have a pink chest and blue wings. Males are larger than females and have a colored band over their face. These birds typically live in groups of four to six individuals, although they sometimes gather in flocks of up to 100. Breeding pairs are monogamous, with the male guarding the nesting area and feeding the female as she incubates their eggs. Nesting occurs in unlined tree holes.

Interesting Fact 1

Bourke’s parrots are small parakeets that can reach up to nine inches in length.

Interesting Fact 2

They feed most actively at dusk and dawn, foraging on the ground for grasses and seeds.

Interesting Fact 3

Their feathers help them blend into the red-tinted soil of interior Australia.

Animal Care staff working with seal

Commitment to Care

Lincoln Park Zoo prioritizes individual well-being over everything else. Guided by scientific research, staff and volunteers work to provide the best welfare outcomes for each individual in the zoo’s care.

Learn More

Support Your Zoo

Two Chilean flamingos in exhibit

Animals Depend On People Too

When you ADOPT an animal, you support world-class animal care by helping to provide specially formulated diets, new habitat elements, and regular veterinary checkups.

Adopt an Animal

Asian small-clawed otter in exhibit

Wish List

The Wish List is full of one-of-a-kind items for the zoo’s animals, including nutritious snacks and enrichment items to keep them active and healthy.

Browse the Wish List

African penguin eating a fish

Take Action With Us

Wildlife face many daunting challenges—some global, like planet-wide climate change, and some that affect individuals, like an animal ingesting plastic—but now is not the time to despair. None of these problems are too big for us to come together and solve.

Take Action