Before you're a king parrot, you have to be a prince parrot - or princess, but this one's a prince.

This wild young fella's going through the change from juvenile to adult, getting ready to show off his bespoke bright orange kit. Females remain almost completely green.

#KingParrot
#fediphotos
#BlueMountains
#AltText

@thefathippy I was delighted to discover recently that crimson rosellas go through a similar adorable process

@joannaholman

Indeed they do. They seem to have more variation - or maybe it's that more feathers change? I don't know, but do enjoy my changeling visitors! 😁

@thefathippy I had the biggest heart attack today when I was doing 100 and a juvenile unused to the road was zooming somewhere or other and went right in front of my car… and miraculously didn’t get hit. Must’ve been a matter of centimetres, I swear. I was so relieved he got away. I gasped so suddenly and with such horror that I startled my daughter. 😂