Western Ground Parrot
Encyclopedia
The Western Ground Parrot (Pezoporus flaviventris) is an endangered species of parrot endemic to Western Australia and is a close relative of the Eastern Ground Parrot (P. wallicus) and the somewhat more distantly related and mysterious Night Parrot
(Pezoporus occidentalis). It is one of the world's rarest birds with about 110 individuals remaining.
The Western Ground Parrot plumage is similar to the Eastern Ground Parrot, but feathers of the abdomen and under tail-coverts
are bright yellow with indistinct black barring. The fledgling Western Ground Parrot is grey/brown around the head, wing covets and across the back, while the Eastern Ground Parrot has bright green (adult) plumage in these areas. This plumage difference would provide better camouflage to mobile fledglings in the habitat typical of the southwest arid regions where they reside. In contrast the Eastern Ground Parrot lives in thick vegetation with little open ground.
Molecular DNA evidence suggests the Western Ground Parrot split from Ground Parrots of eastern Australia around 2 million years ago.
in 1911 on account of its distinctive plumage. The specific name, flaviventris, is derived from the Latin
terms flavus "golden-yellow" and venter "belly". The Western Ground Parrot was subsequently considered a subspecies of the Eastern Ground Parrot by Gregory Mathews
in 1912. He felt it not distinctive enough to warrant specific rank. Other authorities followed suit, until a 2010 molecular study revealed its genetic distinctness from populations in Eastern Australia and Tasmania. The third species in genus is the critically endangered and mysterious Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis). The phylogenetic position of the genus Pezoporus
within the parrot family
remains unclear.
are bright yellow with indistinct black barring. The fledgling Western Ground Parrot is a more neutral grey/brown in colour, while the Eastern Ground Parrot has bright green (adult) plumage in these areas.
north to Geraldton and along the South Coast east to Israelite Bay. However, it appears to have vanished from the west coast of Western Australia by 1900. Nowadays, the range of this species is limited to two locations along the south coast of Western Australia, east of Albany
with the largest population in Cape Arid National Park
.
Low heathland usually on deep white sand with a large diversity of plants is the most common habitat. Parrots appear to be more abundant in heath which has not been burnt for decades, but have been found in areas six years after a burn. There is usually a fairly high component of sedge
s.
, such as foxes and feral cats, as well as wildfire
s. It is listed as "endangered" by the Australian Government. Much of the local vegetation is vulnerable to Phytophthora cinnamomi
dieback and it is unclear what impact the loss of certain food items may have on the species.
s, dryandra
s and grevillea
s are also important parts of the diet. A Western Ground Parrot has been observed feeding on the semi-succulent leaves of Daviesia pachyphylla. The diet is varied and utilises the high diversity of their habitat.
of the Western Ground Parrot was found in 1913, and was described as a slight depression among low prickly vegetation (possibly the genus Hakea
) on a low ridge.
Night Parrot
The Night Parrot is a small broad-tailed parrot endemic to the continent of Australia. The species was originally placed within its own genus , but most authors now prefer to place it within the genus Pezoporus together with the two ground parrots.No known sightings of the bird were made between...
(Pezoporus occidentalis). It is one of the world's rarest birds with about 110 individuals remaining.
The Western Ground Parrot plumage is similar to the Eastern Ground Parrot, but feathers of the abdomen and under tail-coverts
Covert (feather)
A covert feather on a bird is one of a set of feathers, called coverts, which as the name implies, cover other feathers. The coverts help to smooth airflow over the wings and tail.- Wing-coverts :...
are bright yellow with indistinct black barring. The fledgling Western Ground Parrot is grey/brown around the head, wing covets and across the back, while the Eastern Ground Parrot has bright green (adult) plumage in these areas. This plumage difference would provide better camouflage to mobile fledglings in the habitat typical of the southwest arid regions where they reside. In contrast the Eastern Ground Parrot lives in thick vegetation with little open ground.
Molecular DNA evidence suggests the Western Ground Parrot split from Ground Parrots of eastern Australia around 2 million years ago.
Taxonomy
Described as a separate species by Alfred John NorthAlfred John North
Alfred John North was an Australian ornithologist.North was born in Melbourne and was educated at Melbourne Grammar School...
in 1911 on account of its distinctive plumage. The specific name, flaviventris, is derived from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
terms flavus "golden-yellow" and venter "belly". The Western Ground Parrot was subsequently considered a subspecies of the Eastern Ground Parrot by Gregory Mathews
Gregory Mathews
Gregory Macalister Mathews CBE was an Australian amateur ornithologist.Mathews made his fortune in mining shares, and moved to England around 1900....
in 1912. He felt it not distinctive enough to warrant specific rank. Other authorities followed suit, until a 2010 molecular study revealed its genetic distinctness from populations in Eastern Australia and Tasmania. The third species in genus is the critically endangered and mysterious Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis). The phylogenetic position of the genus Pezoporus
Pezoporus
The genus Pezoporus contains three Australian species: the Night Parrot and the cryptic ground parrots, the Eastern Ground Parrot and the Western Ground Parrot . The night parrot was previously separated in a distinct genus, Geopsittacus...
within the parrot family
True parrots
The true parrots are about 330 species of bird belonging to the Psittacidae family, one of the two "traditional" families in the biological order Psittaciformes . The other family is the Cacatuidae which are also parrots, but not classified as true parrots...
remains unclear.
Description
The Western Ground Parrot plumage is similar to the Eastern Ground Parrot (P. wallicus), but feathers of the abdomen and under tail-covertsCovert (feather)
A covert feather on a bird is one of a set of feathers, called coverts, which as the name implies, cover other feathers. The coverts help to smooth airflow over the wings and tail.- Wing-coverts :...
are bright yellow with indistinct black barring. The fledgling Western Ground Parrot is a more neutral grey/brown in colour, while the Eastern Ground Parrot has bright green (adult) plumage in these areas.
Distribution and habitat
Historically, this species was found all along the coast of western southwest Australia from PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
north to Geraldton and along the South Coast east to Israelite Bay. However, it appears to have vanished from the west coast of Western Australia by 1900. Nowadays, the range of this species is limited to two locations along the south coast of Western Australia, east of Albany
Albany, Western Australia
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
with the largest population in Cape Arid National Park
Cape Arid National Park
Cape Arid National Park is a national park in Western Australia , south east of Perth. The park is situated east of Esperance and lies on shore from the eastern end of the Recherche Archipelago...
.
Low heathland usually on deep white sand with a large diversity of plants is the most common habitat. Parrots appear to be more abundant in heath which has not been burnt for decades, but have been found in areas six years after a burn. There is usually a fairly high component of sedge
Cyperaceae
Cyperaceae are a family of monocotyledonous graminoid flowering plants known as sedges, which superficially resemble grasses or rushes. The family is large, with some 5,500 species described in about 109 genera. These species are widely distributed, with the centers of diversity for the group...
s.
Status
This species is among the rarest bird species in the world. The first photo of the Western Ground Parrot in the wild was taken in 2004. This species has rapidly declined between 1990 and 2009 from about 400 individuals to 110 individuals. Most individuals (~100) are found in the Cape Arid National Park. The species has not yet been evaluated by the IUCN, but it meets several criteria to be considered critically endangered. The main threats are introduced predatorsInvasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
, such as foxes and feral cats, as well as wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
s. It is listed as "endangered" by the Australian Government. Much of the local vegetation is vulnerable to Phytophthora cinnamomi
Phytophthora cinnamomi
Phytophthora cinnamomi is a soil-borne water mould that produces an infection which causes a condition in plants called root rot or dieback. The plant pathogen is one of the world's most invasive species and is present in over 70 countries from around the world.- Life cycle and effects on plants :P...
dieback and it is unclear what impact the loss of certain food items may have on the species.
Behaviour
The Western Ground Parrot usually feeds alone or with one other bird. They are rarely seen because they rarely fly or call during daylight, and they are usually hidden among low vegetation. Their plumage offers a good camouflage. If flushed it will fly low over the vegetation, then land again up to 100 or so metres away. Flight when flushed is characterised by a zigzag pattern with short gliding phases and rapid wingbeats. Calling periods are at dusk and early morning before the sun rises; it is a variable high-pitched call audible for some distance and answered by neighbouring members of the species.Diet
Seeds of various plants especially sedges. e.g. Mesomaelaena stygia ssp. stygia. Flower buds and the base of flowers e.g. beaufortiaBeaufortia
Beaufortia is a genus of plants in the botanical family Myrtaceae, endemic to Southwest Australia.Species include:*Beaufortia aestiva K.Brooks *Beaufortia anisandra Schauer *Beaufortia bicolor Strid...
s, dryandra
Dryandra
Banksia ser. Dryandra is a series of 94 species of shrub to small tree in the plant genus Banksia. It was considered a separate genus named Dryandra until early 2007, when it was merged into Banksia on the basis of extensive molecular and morphological evidence that Banksia was paraphyletic with...
s and grevillea
Grevillea
Grevillea is a diverse genus of about 360 species of evergreen flowering plants in the protea family Proteaceae, native to Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, and Sulawesi. It was named in honour of Charles Francis Greville. The species range from prostrate shrubs less than 0.5 m tall to trees...
s are also important parts of the diet. A Western Ground Parrot has been observed feeding on the semi-succulent leaves of Daviesia pachyphylla. The diet is varied and utilises the high diversity of their habitat.
Breeding
The last nestBird nest
A bird nest is the spot in which a bird lays and incubates its eggs and raises its young. Although the term popularly refers to a specific structure made by the bird itself—such as the grassy cup nest of the American Robin or Eurasian Blackbird, or the elaborately woven hanging nest of the...
of the Western Ground Parrot was found in 1913, and was described as a slight depression among low prickly vegetation (possibly the genus Hakea
Hakea
Hakea is a genus of 149 species of shrubs and small trees in the Proteaceae, native to Australia. They are found throughout the country, with the highest species diversity being found in the south west of Western Australia....
) on a low ridge.
External links
- Friends of the Western Ground Parrot
- http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/action/birds2000/pubs/ground-parrot-w.pdf - Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000
- Video of Western Ground Parrot