Cloncurry Parrot & South Australian Mallee Parrot (*Barnardius macgillivrayi / Barnardius whitei*) – Original lithograph by Gree

Cloncurry & South Australian Mallee Parrots: Strength in Dual Harmony

This original early twentieth-century hand-colored lithograph depicts Barnardius macgillivrayi (Cloncurry Parrot) and Barnardius whitei (South Australian Mallee Parrot). The plate belongs to Gregory M. Mathews’ monumental publication The Birds of Australia, illustrated by Roland Green and issued by Witherby & Co.

Arranged upon intersecting eucalyptus branches, the two parrots are presented in complementary attitudes: one upright and composed, the other stretched forward in a more dynamic posture. This subtle opposition introduces movement while preserving compositional balance.

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Visual and Aesthetic Analysis

Roland Green orchestrates the palette with confident clarity. The dominant cool greens are modulated through layered feather texture, while accents of cobalt-blue wing coverts, golden-yellow abdominal bands, and the small yet decisive red frontal marking provide chromatic punctuation.

The lower bird, extended along the branch, creates a strong horizontal line, counterbalanced by the vertical poise of the upper figure. This cross-structure gives the sheet architectural stability while preserving a sense of natural vitality.

Unlike the darker tonal complexity of the Smutty Parrots, this plate radiates brighter decorative appeal. The contrasts are cleaner, the colour separations more immediate, making it particularly striking in display.

About the Species

The Cloncurry and Mallee Parrots inhabit arid and semi-arid regions of Australia, often associated with eucalyptus woodland and mallee scrub. Their structured plumage patterning and bold head markings make them visually distinctive within the broader Barnardius group.

Mathews’ inclusion of closely related forms within a single plate underscores his taxonomic ambition: not merely to illustrate species, but to clarify subtle distinctions within Australia’s diverse parrot lineages.

Condition Report

Very good antique condition. Fresh original hand-coloring with strong lithographic impression. Printed on fine early twentieth-century wove paper. Minor age toning slightly more visible along the outer margins, consistent with age.

Details

• Author: Gregory M. Mathews
• Illustrator: Roland Green (“Green del.”)
• Work: The Birds of Australia
• Species: Cloncurry Parrot (Barnardius macgillivrayi) & South Australian Mallee Parrot (Barnardius whitei)
• Period: circa 1910
• Technique: Original hand-colored lithograph
• Paper: Fine original wove paper
• Publisher: Witherby & Co.

For further insight into Roland Green’s contribution to ornithological illustration: Roland Green – Dynamic Vision and Field-Born Precision in Bird Art