Biology

Golden-shouldered parrots are typically found in pairs or family groups of three to eight birds (5). Much of their time is spent on the ground feeding on seeds of grasses, principally those of fire grass (Schizachyrium spp). However, a shortage of food occurs annually in the wet season, forcing the parrots to change their diet to include a variety of other grasses (2) (5) and flowers (7). A borrow and nesting chamber are dug from a termite mound, normally by the female, between March and June (8). Mounds are usually only sufficiently large enough for nesting when they are 30 to 50+ years old, and are rarely occupied more than once, possibly due to the persistence of nest parasites, such as lice, or because mounds repaired by termites are difficult to excavate (5) (8). Thus, there are problems in some areas where most mounds of a suitable size have already been used (5). Females lay four to six eggs, which are incubated for approximately 20 days, and the young are fully fledged by five weeks (3) (5).