Yes they are native to Western Australia. Most of our plants and animals are unique to this state. We are surrounded by thousands of kilometers of desert and the Indian Ocean so there's not much chance of the endemic species spreading, but people have brought in species that didn't originate here......... like rabbits and foxes from England and koalas and kookaburras from the east coast of Australia.

@Abbelyne Are they noisy? The tame members of the parrot family I have come across tend to be be a bit loud.

@CeliaVL The ring neck parrots are not very noisy...... they make a peeping sound. We also have a feral parrot here that comes from the eastern states called a rainbow lorikeet. It is very pretty (see pic) but hangs around in group of up to 10 or 12 and is extremely aggressive towards other birds........ and quite noisy!

@Abbelyne I think I could put up with the noise for something as pretty as that! I want one.

@CeliaVL Yes, a lot of people think that. But they're a pest and are displacing the endemic species all over Australia, and that's not a good thing at all.

That's a fascinating story L. Why was Argentina evicting them, were they feral exotics?

Are there any native parrots in the USA? I'm fairly sure there are quite a few in South America

@Abbelyne The only wild parrots left in the US are far south near the border with Mexico. Where I was is quite a ways from Mexico.

I remember goldfinches from when I grew up in England, but I can't remember them being anything like canaries or parakeets. Anything parrot-like has quite a different beak from small garden birds. Congratulations on your diplomacy with your mum though M, I'm sure she got a lot of happiness from your help and sensitivity.

@Leafhead I guess you're not addressing me Lh........ I'm in Western Australia, our plants and birds are quite different from yours. We also have very strict quarantine laws so we can't import plants. Even if I could try Sylphia, I think I'm a bit far away to attract American Goldfinches

@Abbelyne
My bad. That post was meant for Mike.
I posted under you inintentionally.

@Leafhead Thanks. I just ordered a packet of 50 seeds

@MikeEC good luck and watch em go!