- Pezoporus wallicus
Includes Western Ground Parrot
Identification
30 cm (11¾ in)
- Red frontal band
- Green overall plumage
- Crown has black streaks
- Upperparts mottled black with yellowish chevons and spots
Similar Species
Superficially similar to, but much longer-tailed than, Night Parrot.
Distribution
Australia including Tasmania: subspecies wallicus in south-eastern Australia including Tasmania, and flaviventris in south-western Australia (this form endangered).
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Two subspecies are commonly recognized[1]:
- P. w. flaviventris: Western Ground Parrot
- Coastal south-western Australia
- P. w. wallicus: Eastern Ground Parrot
- Tasmania, islands in Bass Strait and coastal south-eastern Australia
Some authorities additionally recognizing leachi[2].
A recent paper finds that the two subspecies have been separated for a very long time and proposes to recognize P. flaviventris as a full species, Western Ground Parrot.
Habitat
Coastal heath and swampland and nearby grasslands.
Behaviour
Most likely to fly (unless flushed) at dawn and dusk.
Diet
Feeds on ground on seeds, green grass shoots and herbs.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved December 2015)
- Birdforum thread discussing taxonomy of the Ground Parrot
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Ground Parrot. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Ground_Parrot
