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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Psittaculidae
  4. ›
  5. Polytelis
  6. ›
  7. Superb Parrot
Superb Parrot
Photo · (c) Hilary Rose Dawson, some rights reserved (CC BY)

BirdUp · Species

Superb Parrot

Polytelis swainsonii(Desmarest, 1826)

Updated 11 June 2026

Conservation status: VulnerableOrigin: Endemic
Order
PSITTACIFORMES
Family
Psittaculidae
Genus
Polytelis

At a glance

The Superb Parrot is a large bird, about 40 cm long, listed as Vulnerable and endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
40 cm
Conservation status
Vulnerable
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Rare
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Superb Parrot look like?

The Superb Parrot is a large bird, about 40 cm long and weighing 134–164 g.

The superb parrot, also known as Barraband's parrot, Barraband's parakeet, or green leek parrot, is a parrot native to south-eastern Australia. It is a dimorphic species and one of three species in the genus Polytelis.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
40 cm
Weight
134–164 g
Wingspan
50 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

Field tips

behaviour

  • During the breeding season, look for conspicuous bachelor flocks consisting exclusively of brightly colored males traveling together.

flight

  • The flight is fast and direct with deep, rhythmic wing strokes, displaying a streamlined silhouette and a long tail streaming straight behind.

plumage

  • Adult males are recognized by a bright yellow face and throat bordered by a crisp red band, while females show a subtle blue-green facial wash and orange-pink thigh feathers.

size_and_shape

  • This species has an extremely slender, elongated silhouette characterized by a long, tapering, and sharply pointed tail that accounts for a significant portion of its profile.

voice

  • Listen for a distinctive, rolling 'rak-rak' or 'kurrak-kurrak' contact call, which is frequently emitted by flocks while in flight.

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Superb Parrot?

The Superb Parrot 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

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

jimchurches · Australia

Call

Will Cornwell · Wellington, AU-NS, AU

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Superb Parrot eat?

The Superb Parrot feeds on seeds, usually foraging in flocks.

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Superb Parrot live in Australia?

The Superb Parrot is endemic to Australia, recorded across 18 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingNorth-central NSW to north-central VIC (inland south-east Australia)

Non-breedingTo north NSW

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Vagrant

8 regions recorded