One of the most common parrots around Broome is the Red-winged Parrot and they can often be seen flying around, but I have rarely been able to get any decent photos of them. The problem with Red-winged Parrots is that they are mostly green and they blend in so well that they often don’t stand out and they are usually very cautious too. However, I was able to get some close-up photos not too long ago and it was of a magnificent specimen with really coloured red wings. It almost posed for me! Against a blue sky as in the above photograph they stand out well, but not ideal for showing you just how magnificent the bird is.

Red-winged Parrot

Red-winged Parrot (7)

Red-winged Parrot (8)

Red-winged Parrot (3)

Red-winged Parrot (4)

Red-winged Parrot (5)

Red-winged Parrot (6)

Red-winged Parrot

Then what should happen, but a Red-winged Parrot has a bit of a crash landing in our garden when it was possibly escaping our local Brown Goshawk and it gets rather wet. Now I have photos of a wet and sad looking Red-winged Parrot to share! Thankfully it decided to move higher into the tree and recover from the shock.

Red-winged Parrot (9)

Red-winged Parrot (10)

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A wet Red-winged Parrot!

Thankfully the Red-winged Parrot was dry within an hour and headed out of harm’s way to the neighbours palm tree for a bit more recuperation and then joined other Red-winged Parrots as they flew by.

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Red-winged Parrot (12)

Red-winged Parrot out of harm’s way!

So, there you have it! Now you have seen a magnificent male Red-winged Parrot and a wet Red-winged Parrot! What’s not to love about these beautiful parrots? Oh, they do eat the mangos if you don’t pick them soon enough!

Written by Clare M
Clare and her husband, Grant, have lived permanently in Broome, Western Australia since 1999 after living in various outback locations around Western Australia and Darwin. She has lived in the Middle East and the United States and traveled extensively in Europe. She monitors Pied Oystercatchers breeding along a 23km stretch of Broome's coastline by bicycle and on foot. She chooses not to participate in social media, but rather wander off into the bush for peace and tranquility. Thankfully she can write posts in advance and get away from technology!