Abstract
The Wheatbelt hybrid is a naturally
occurring hybrid of the Port Lincoln
Parrot (Barnardius z. zonarius) and
the Twenty-eight Parrot (Barnardius
zonerius semitorquatus). The birds
of this population inhabit an area in
Australia generally farmed for wheat,
hence the name, Wheat belt hybrid.
These birds, sometimes, are not
easily identified as their plumage can
vary slightly or greatly from either of
the above subspecies.
Description
The head is slaty-black in color
with bluish cheek patches. Generally
there is a red frontal band (i.e., red
feathering above the cere). This band
can vary greatly from being absent to
being very prominent. There is a yellow
band across the back of the neck.
The back is fairly dark green. The
flight feathers are blue, the rump is
greenish blue and the tail feathers are
green in the center and green, merging
to blue in the outer feathers . The
vent is yellowish green. The chest is
generally green, but can be interspersed
with yellow feathers or
patches of yellow. The abdomen varies
in color from true semitorquatus
green to z onarius yellow, but most
of the time it is a mixture of both
colors.
Some young birds have a wing
stripe. This stripe is a light, almost
transparent portion of the flight
feathers about three to four inches
wide. This can be seen when the
wing is outstretched or when the
birds are in flight.
The cock bird is a larger, more
robust bird than the hen with a larger
upper mandible and a larger, flatter
head. The h ead shape on a h en is
more rounded and the upper mandible
is smaller as with the Platycerus
(rosella) group. The overall coloration
of the hen is not as brilliant.
The size of the Wheatbelt hybrid is
intermediate between both subspecies.
These birds fall within the
lengths of 15.5 inches for the Port
Lincoln Parrot to 16.2 inches for the
Twenty-eight Parrot. Their weight
can range from 170 to 200 grams.
Their flight usually consists of a series
of rapid wing beats and a glide
very similar to those of the larger
rosellas. They rise directly from the
ground to a perch or tree limb and
alight rosella fashion , fanning their
tail before alighting.