The male is a bright jade green with yellow breast, and under parts. The male also has blue highlights on its wings and back that blend perfectly into the green. The male also has a brick red backside and is the only of the species that has it.

The female is a lot less vibrant than the male. It has a dull olive greenish color with dark green wings and back. With the female being less colorful it is very easy to distinguish it from the male, however with the female lacking the characterist "red rump" identify it as a Red-Rump parrot.

Red-rumped Parrots can be found in pairs or flocks in open country with access to water. They avoid the coast and the wetter, more heavily timbered areas. They are often seen in suburban parks and gardens.

Like all parrots, red-rumps nest in tree hollows or similar places, including fence posts. Breeding usually takes place in spring. In the dryer inland areas, breeding can occur at any time of year in response to rainfall.

Red-rumped Parrots mate for life. The female chooses and prepares the nesting site, usually a hollow in a eucalypt tree. Eggs are laid on a decayed wood bed and the female incubates the eggs while the male regularly feeds her from the food he collects.

Red-rumps as pets

Many people, primarily in Australia keep red-rumps as pets. Red-rumps prove to be excelant pets as they are very energetic and social. There call is a soft chirp, so they aren't as loud as some of the other parrots held as pets. They are also fairly cheap to buy and maintain, because they are so small they do not eat to much or require a large cage like some of the other larger parrots.

Red-rumped parrots are very popular and abundant in pet shops and the wild, although probably more abundant and popular in its native region of Australia. If you are looking to own a red-rumped parrot you can expect to pay more for the cage than the bird itself. You can also expect to have a very pleasant and friendly pet.