During a recent trip out west of Sydney, I spent a night at Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges. Early the next morning, I went for a walk and spotted this lovely parrot sitting on a fence. It’s an Australian Ringneck.

The name “ringneck” comes from the yellow collar on the back of the bird’s neck. This particular variety of Australian Ringneck is called a Mallee Ringneck.  It has a green and blue head, whereas other races have a dark blue head. “Mallee” comes from an Australian aboriginal word meaning water, and is used to describe terrain covered in low-growing scrubby Eucalyptus trees.

Scientific name: Barnardius zonarius barnardi
Approximate length: 34-38 cm
Date spotted: 19 July 2026 (winter)
Location: Wilpena Pound, Flinders Ranges, South Australia: 31°31’36.5″S 138°36’11.6″E