Urbanisation typically results in homogenisation of the constituent avifauna, as generalists that are able to adapt to and persist within the urban landscape replace specialist species whose specific habitat needs are removed. Recently, within some major urban centres, parrots have become a conspicuous component of the avifauna, present in higher abundance in the urban landscape than in the natural environment. This thesis examines the composition and distribution of the parrot community within a large urban centre and evaluates the relative importance of key abiotic and biotic factors that may explain the increase in abundance of urban parrots. I demonstrated that parrot species were present in higher abundance within the urban landscape, compared to natural habitat and that, historically, both drought and wild fire resulted in an influx of some parrot species into the urban landscape. I demonstrated that the standing crop of nectar was consistently higher within streetscapes compared to the non-urban habitat and is capable of sustaining large populations of large-bodied nectarivores. I also demonstrated that trees within the urban landscape produce more flowers and flower for longer than the same species of tree outside the urban landscape. I showed that there were significantly more visitations to hollows by parrots within the urban landscape, compared to forest, as well as significantly more aggressive interactions. My results demonstrate that the urban landscape is capable of sustaining a diverse community of native parrots, particularly nectarivores such as the rainbow lorikeet. The urban landscape provides food resources in excess of that found in natural habitat, however nesting resources are fewer compared to natural habitat. My research suggest that there may be a shortage of tree hollows and I discuss how, if the density of parrots continues to increase, there may be a simplification in the current avifauna due to a shortage of breeding resources
