Bluebonnet /Blue Bonnet Northiella/(prev. Psephotus) haematogaster

The Bluebonnet, also called Blue Bonnet, used to be one species of small, blue-faced grass parrot (also called grass parakeet) native to Australia but has been split in recent years to two species: the Eastern (shown here) and the Naretha (see link below).

It also used to be called the Crimson-bellied Parrot (not to be confused with the Crimson-bellied Parakeet or Conure, Pyrrhura perlata, of South America), but that name is no longer applied.

There are three subspecies, the nominal Yellow-vented Bluebonnet, Northiella haematogaster haematogaster from S.E. Australia, above left, the Red-vented , N. h. haematorrhous from eastern Australia (south Queensland and north New South Wales), above right, and the Pallid Yellow-vented from inland southern Australia. The former fourth subspecies, the Naretha from SW Australia, has been made a separate full species.

Male and female have similar plumage; the female usually has less red and blue than the male. The broad blue-green, white-edged tail is reminiscent of the Rosella species.

Above is the Yellow-vented Bluebonnet, the nominal and more common subspecies, from southeastern Australia. Usually just called the Bluebonnet, its plumage is similar to the Red-vented except for the vent (below the red belly, before the tail) which is yellow rather than red.

Above is the Red-vented Bluebonnet from eastern and northeastern Australia.