Found in humid and heavily forested upland regions of the eastern portion of the continent, including eucalyptus wooded areas in and directly adjacent to subtropical and temperate rainforest.

Two subspecies are recognised,[3] which are differentiated by size:[4] Naturally-occurring hybrids with the red-winged parrot (Aprosmictus erythropterus) have been recorded from Bell in southeastern Queensland.

The plumage of the female is very different from the male having a green head and breast, a grey beak, and the pale shoulder band is small or absent.

Further from their normal eastern upland habitat, they are also found in Canberra during winter, the outer western and northern suburbs of Sydney, and the Carnarvon Gorge in central Queensland.

At a food source of seeds, the approximate order is as follows: cockatoo, rainbow lorikeet, magpie, corella, galah, king parrot, crimson rosella.