Australia
SpeciesField NotesLog inDownload

Field notes

Stay in the loop

Get updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

By subscribing, I agree to receive BirdUp Australia updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

Australia
Download for iOSDownload for AndroidSpeciesField NotesRSSNewsletterBrandPrivacyTerms

BirdUp Australia Pty Ltd © 2026. Made in Australia for Australian birders.

  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Psittaculidae
  4. ›
  5. Northiella
  6. ›
  7. Naretha Bluebonnet
Naretha Bluebonnet
Photo · Neville W. Cayley

BirdUp · Species

Naretha Bluebonnet

Northiella narethae(White, HL, 1921)

Updated 21 March 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
PSITTACIFORMES
Family
Psittaculidae
Genus
Northiella

At a glance

The Naretha Bluebonnet is a medium-sized bird, about 28–32 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
28–32 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Naretha Bluebonnet look like?

The Naretha Bluebonnet is a medium-sized bird, about 28–32 cm long and weighing 70–105 g.

The Naretha bluebonnet or Naretha parrot is a bird found in a remote and arid region of Australia. It is one of two species in the genus Northiella, and was first recorded in 1921 in Central Australia.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
28–32 cm
Weight
70–105 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Naretha Bluebonnet?

The Naretha Bluebonnet is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Naretha Bluebonnet eat?

The Naretha Bluebonnet feeds on seeds from native grasses and shrubs, fruits, berries, blossoms, insects and larvae, usually foraging in feeds on ground and in trees in pairs or small groups.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

3 photos

The BirdUp app

Log your next Naretha Bluebonnet in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.

Get the appRead field notes
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report incorrect info

02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Naretha Bluebonnet live in Australia?

The Naretha Bluebonnet is endemic to Australia, recorded across 5 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingSouth-east WA and south-west SA (south-central Australia)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Vagrant
  • Resident

4 regions recorded