Blue underwing plumage

The frame below is captured from a video taken 22 September 2006. It is of a wild male Western Ground Parrot, in Fitzgerald River National Park. The blue leading edge of the underwing is revealed. Most of the underwing is dove grey and the pale bar can just be seen. The video was filmed by Brent Barrett and is owned by the Department of Parks and Wildlife, Western Australia.

The following extract is taken from

Courtney, J. (1997). Age-related colour changes and behaviour in the Ground Parrot Pezoporus wallicus. Australian Bird Watcher 17, 185-191.

A courtship display of captive male Eastern Ground Parrots is described.


The epigamic (courtship) display was commonly observed during September and

October. The male stands upright and lifts the folded wings well away from the body

at the ‘shoulders’ (carpus) while the tips of the wings remain touching the back.

Presumably this is to display the soft sky-blue undersurface of the carpus, which in

bright sunlight contrasts with the green of the body. The long tail is pressed firmly

to the ground because of the upright body posture, and therefore cannot be fanned

in the manner of most platycercine parrots performing this ‘shoulder squaring’ display.

This posture is maintained for many seconds during which the bird may stand still,

or walk slowly around in small circles, calling frequently with a series of short whistles

usually described as ‘tee tee tee‘. Occasionally, a male perching on a branch vigorously

thrusts the body up and down several times by bending and straightening its legs,

while calling in a similar way.