It is a small parrot about 25 cm long. It is bright green with red around the bill, throat and forehead. The red on its throat is edged with yellow. Its crown is blue purple.

There are bright red patches under the wings. One of most distinctive features from a distance is its long (12 cm), thin tail, which is dark red. This distinguishes it from the similar lorikeets, with which it often flies and feeds. Can also be recognised by its flute-like chirruping or metallic "kik-kik-kik" call.

These parrots breed in Tasmania during spring and summer and migrate in the autumn and winter months to south-eastern Australia from Victoria and the eastern parts of South Australia to Southeast Queensland. That’s quite the trip north! 

Following winter, they return to Tasmania where they breed from September to January, nesting in old trees with hollows and feeding in forests dominated by Tasmanian Blue Gum Eucalyptus globulus. 

Fun fact: Swift parrots are creatures of habit, often returning to foraging sites on a cyclic basis, depending on food availability. 

More resources: 

National Recovery Plan (dcceew.gov.au)