Hybridisation between Australian Ringneck Platycercus zonarius and Red-capped Parrot Platycercus spurius in Cottesloe, Perth, Western Australia

2009·1.7 MB·English

by  R E Johnstone

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN
NATURALIST
Vol. 27 30th December 2009 No. 1
HYBRIDISATION BETWEEN AUSTRALIAN RINGNECK
PLATYCERCUS ZONARIUS AND RED-CAPPED
PARROT PLATYCERCUS SPURIUS IN COTTESLOE,
PFRTW WPSTBRM A T ISTw \
J
7 FES 2ui3 I
rattan MUseum^'
and
R.BENKEN
6 Lyons Street, Cottesloe, Western Australia 6011
INTRODUCTION rare under natural conditions
and have not been recorded
The Red-capped Parrot Platycercus
between these two species in the
spurius (sometimes placed in the
past. With parrots most cases of
genus Purpureicephalus) and the
hybridisation occur in captivity
Australian Ringneck Platycercus
where the choice of mates is very
zonarius (sometimes placed in the
limited and where a male of the
genus Barnardius) are sympatric
same species is often not avail¬
in distribution over much of
able. The chances of hybrid¬
south-western Australia. They
isation are increased with species
frequently associate together and
that are closely related
it is not uncommon in many
phylogenetically. Storr and
places to see small mixed flocks
Johnstone (1979), Johnstone and
feeding close together especially
Storr (1998) and Johnstone (2001)
in and around orchards. Both
combined Platycercus, Barnardius,
species often also nest close
Purpureicephalus, Northiella and
together and use similar size
Psephotus into one genus
nesting hollows.
Platycercus based on morphology,
Interspecific hybrids are generally behaviour and calls (especially of
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juveniles). Christidis et al (1991) capped Parrot was seen to enter
revealed a close relationship the box and spend some time
between all of these genera and inside. The Australian Ringneck
including Lathamus, based on often stayed close by in the Tuart
analysis of protein allozyme data or in a tree nearby.
and suggested that following
On 5 August 2007, both birds
further study, all could be
were at the box and the Red-
combined. Despite this all six
capped Parrot spent much time,
genera were still retained by
noisily working in the box while
Christidis and Boles (2008).
the Australian Ringneck perched
Pair formation depends on an on the box or in trees nearby.
exchange of signals between Both birds were observed flying
potential mates and these are in and leaving together on
visual courtship displays or several occasions. Both birds then
auditory (songs). The signals disappeared.
usually differ markedly between In mid-July 2008 the Australian
closely related species living in Ringneck was observed feeding
the same area which form the the Red-capped Parrot at the
effective species isolating mech¬ entrance to the box and the Red-
anism. As mentioned earlier, capped Parrot was noted as
hybrids are extraordinarily rare in staying in the box for long
nature, even among species that periods. The Australian Ring¬
hybridise readily in captivity neck spent much time vocalising,
when conspecific mates are not tail wagging and defending the
available. It was therefore of nest site and the tree from other
considerable interest when R. B. Ringnecks. The Red-capped
contacted R.E.J. about a Red- Parrot was the only individual of
capped Parrot and Australian that species observed in the
Ringneck that had paired up and neighbourhood.
appeared to be breeding at
On 20 September 2008, the Red-
Cottesloe, Western Australia.
capped Parrot was out of the nest
Details of relevant observations, box most of the day and feral
taken from notes by R. Benken, E. European honeybees were
Dewar and K. Brockman between observed around the box. The
2000 and 2009 are as follows: Australian Ringneck was seen
In 2000 a wooden nest box was feeding the Red-capped Parrot.
installed in a large Tuart On 21 September 2008, more bees
Eucalyptus gomphocephala for were noted around the box and
Australian Ringnecks at 4 Lyons both birds were outside the box
Street, Cottesloe. chattering and displaying (tail
In October 2006, a Red-capped wagging by the Ringneck).
Parrot and an Australian Ring- On 23 September 2008 the box
neck were observed together on had been colonised by bees, it was
several occasions and the Red- taken down, fumigated and
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contained 3 cold eggs, one broken On 13 November 2008, at 06:30
egg and a dead hatchling (see hrs the Australian Ringneck was
Figure 1) believed to have been observed entering the box for
killed by bees. A metal vent was the first time and just as his tail
installed on the front of the nest feathers disappeared through the
box to create air flow and deter entrance (part of a hollow log)
bees (see Figure 3) and it was re¬ the Red-capped Parrot appeared
erected in the Tuart. Within 30 underneath his tail feathers and
minutes both birds were back at flew out. Following this both
the box, at dusk. adults were observed entering
In October 2008, both birds were and leaving the box many times
recorded in early morning and remaining inside for a
arriving together, the Red- minute or two. On several
capped Parrot entered the box occasions the Australian Ring¬
and late in the day both birds neck was observed feeding the
flew away together to return an Red-capped Parrot (see Figure 2).
hour or so later. Usually the Usually when the Australian
Australian Ringneck returned Ringneck arrived, it called and
immediately to the top of the the Red-capped Parrot emerged
box, called and displayed to the from the box, both birds would
Red-capped Parrot perched then fly to a nearby tree where
nearby and she would then enter the male Ringneck would feed
the box. the Red-capped Parrot.
Figure 1. Dead hatchling presumably killed by bees in the first breeding attempt
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Figure 2. Male Australian Ringneck feeding a female Red-capped Parrot
Figure 3. Nestling at nest box entrance
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On one occasion the male DESCRIPTION OF HYBRIDS
Ringneck regurgitated food 12 (BASED ON NOTES AND
times to its mate. PHOTOGRAPHS)
On 25 November 2008, both
Narrow forehead band dull red,
adults took turns to enter the
bordered above by a narrow
box with most activity in the
yellowish band (dull on one
early morning and early evening.
juvenile), lores blackish grey.
On 28 November 2008, chirping Crown dark olive green. Hind-
noises were heard from the box. neck yellowish green, forming an
On 29 November 2008, the heads indistinct yellowish zone. Back,
of two chicks could be seen at the scapulars and most upperwing
entrance. They had some red on coverts dark green. Primary
the forehead above the bill, edged coverts dark blue, outer primaries
behind with yellow and a bluish mostly blackish. Rump and
area on cheeks, otherwise mostly uppertail coverts pale green. Tail
green. green. Cheeks mostly pale green¬
ish blue with bases of some
On 1 December 2008, the Red-
feathers (on at least one juvenile)
capped Parrot was observed
yellowish orange. Throat, breast,
feeding one chick at the box
belly, flanks and undertail
entrance. At 11:00 hrs one chick
flew from the box. coverts mostly dull green with
some feathers tinged blue and
On 3 December 2008, both adults
most feathers with greyish
made regular visits to the box
edging giving a mottled
that contained two more chicks
appearance. Iris dark; bill bluish
(see Figure 3).
grey with pale tip; legs and feet
On 4 December 2008, at 06:45 hrs
grey (See Figure 4).
both adults were in the Tuart
calling and one chick kept
emerging half-way out of the DISCUSSION
entrance then returning into the
Judging from the observations
box. At 19:00 hrs one chick
and photographs there is no
emerged onto the landing
doubt that a male Australian
platform and immediately flew
Ringneck successfully mated
off and was joined by the
with a female Red-capped Parrot
Ringneck.
and produced three Australian
On 6 December 2008, at 07:20 hrs
Ringneck X Red-capped Parrot
the last chick fledged with both
hybrids. It is noteworthy that
adults in tandem.
Red-capped Parrots are scarce in
On 1 January 2009, two of the the Cottesloe area (this species has
juveniles were observed and one declined in recent years on parts
was fed by the Australian of the Swan Coastal Plain) and it
Ringneck and both juveniles may have been difficult for this
remained near the box for an female to acquire a mate. On the
hour. other hand, Australian Ring-
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Figure 4. Juvenile hybrids.
necks are very common in Perth species. Interspecific hybrids are
suburbs and it should have been usually less fertile than birds of
relatively easy for this male to the parental species and in some
attract an Australian Ring-neck cases they are completely sterile.
female. All three hybrids showed It will now be interesting to see
characters that are inter-mediate if these hybrids remain in the
between the parental species (e.g. area and attempt to breed.
forehead, tore, cheek and
hindneck markings).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This record is of interest as it is
the first record of hybridisation We thank Elinor Dewar and
between these species and there Keith Brookman for their
has been an obvious breakdown observations.
of the usually impervious
reproductive barrier operating
REFERENCES
between the Australian Ring-
neck and Red-capped Parrot. It CHRISTIDIS, L., SCHODDE, R.,
demonstrates that limited gene SHAW, D.D and MAYNES, S.F.
exchange may take place 1991. Relationships (Aves:
between two ‘roselta’ species in Psittaciformes): protein evidence.
the wild that are no-doubt good Condor 93, 302-317.
6
CHRISTIDIS, L. and BOLES, W.E. JOHNSTONE, R.E. and STORR,
2008. Systematics and taxonomy of G.M. 1998. Handbook of Western
Australian Birds. CSIRO Publish¬ Australian Birds. Volume 1 - Non
ing, Melbourne. Passerines (Emu to Dollarbird). pp
436+75 pi. Western Australian
STORR, G.M. and JOHNSTONE,
Museum, Perth.
R.E. 1979. Field Guide to the Birds of
Western Australia, pp 211 + 40 pi. JOHNSTONE, R.E. 2001. Checklist
Western Australian Museum, of the Birds of Western Australia.
Perth. Records of the Western Australian
Museum. Supplement. No. 63: 75-
90.
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