Lerp-feeding behaviour of the Australian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularis in suburban Sydney, New South Wales

Abstract

The staple food of the Australian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularis is fruits and seeds, in addition to nectar and insects, but the extent of use of lerps is poorly known. Here we describe and illustrate feeding behaviour of the King-Parrot on lerps and nymphs of the Aphalaridae psylloid Eucalyptolyma sp. The lerps were spread over young leaves of a Rough-barked Apple Angophora floribunda, and the King-Parrots took one leaf delicately between the mandibles at a time and scraped the lerps and the nymphs with the tongue. This observation of lerp-feeding by King-Parrots contributes to a better understanding of lerps as a food resource, including the seasonality and the frequency of use by parrots and other lerp-feeding birds.