Red-fronted Parakeet, here an adult male bird. Both sexes have the same colored plumage, but males are larger and more powerfully built, just as the head itself appears larger and more angular.

Mini portrait: Red-fronted Parakeet

The Red-fronted Parakeet (Cyanoramphus n. novaezelandiae) belongs to the genus Cyanoramphus, which previously consisted of 9 species and 5 subspecies, but since 2 species and 2 subspecies are extinct, the genus today only consists of 7 species and 3 subspecies, of which 2 are subspecies of the Red-fronted Parakeet.

As the scientific Latin species name directly indicates, this species comes from New Zealand and surrounding island groups, i.a Auckland Islands and Stewart Island. Only 2 of the 7 living species belonging to the Cyanoramphus genus are believed to be found in human care today, the other being the Yellow-fronted Parakeet (Cyanoramphus auriceps), which also comes from the same areas.

The species Red-fronted Parakeet originally consisted of 5 subspecies (incl. the nominate form), but as already stated, 2 of the subspecies have become extinct as a result of man's perpetual intervention in nature.

Back in the 1960’s, the species was a great and expensive rarity among aviculturists in Europe, but due to the fact that it has proven to be easy to acclimatize and extremely robust and even willing to breed in human care, it is today so common and cheap, that many aviculturists, regrettably, pay little attention to it, which has meant that there is a long way between breeders who work seriously to preserve this bird with the right size and character. It is a shame as it is a beautiful bird with a funny and different behaviour. It is one of the few parrot species that has such large and powerful legs in relation to its body size that it is able to effortlessly climb up wire mesh without using its beak. The Danish species name, Gedeparakit = "Goat Parakeet" directly translated from Danish, derives from its voice, which sounds like a goat bleating. It is not an unpleasant or annoying sound, as is otherwise known from a large number of other parrot species.

Until 2016, this species was categorized by BirdLife International as "Near Threatened", but as a result of some progress in the natural habitat, it has been downgraded to being of "Least Concern", as it is believed that there are between approximately 16,000 and 35,000 individuals left. However, its current population trend is considered to be decreasing, which especially applies to its 2 subspecies.

The nominate form is today actually considered extinct in New Zealand itself. The specimens that can be seen on this main island are believed to be specimens that have escaped from human care or as "vagrant" birds from surrounding islands, such as e.g. on the Kermadec islands, Three Kings, certain Hauraki Gulf islands, Kapiti Island, Stewart Island and surrounding islands, Chatham Islands, Snares, Antipodes Islands. On the Auckland Islands there is a hybrid swarm with Yellow-crowned Parakeet (Cyanoramphus auriceps).

In human care, the Red-fronted Parakeet is a very lively and entertaining bird that is easy to care for, making it a good beginner bird for new aviculturists. In this context, it can be stated that a number of different colour mutations of this species have arisen over the past number of years.

Jorgen Petersen

Conceived/Updated: 31.01.2011 / 11.01.2024

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