From Opus

Photo by Chlidonias
Melaleuca, Tasmania

Pezoporus wallicus

Includes Western Ground Parrot

[edit] Identification

Superficially similar to, but much longer-tailed than, Night Parrot.

[edit] Distribution

Australia including Tasmania: subspecies wallicus in south-eastern Australia including Tasmania, and flaviventris in south-western Australia (this form endangered).

[edit] Taxonomy

Two subspecies are commonly recognized (wallicus and flaviventris) with some authorities additionally recognizing leachi.

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.

[edit] Habitat

Coastal heath and swampland and nearby grasslands.

[edit] Behaviour

Feeding on ground, most likely to fly (unless flushed) at dawn and dusk.

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Birdforum thread discussing taxonomy of the Ground Parrot

[edit] External Links