- Pezoporus occidentalis
Identification
23 cm. Mottled yellow-green and dark brown over most of the body, with yellow lower belly and under tail coverts. Pale yellow stripe through middle of wing.
Distribution
Australia; endangered. Only recorded twice in the 20th century but probably not extinct as dead birds have been found.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species which is sometimes placed in its own genus Geopsittacus.
Anatomical and molecular work confirms that the this species and the Ground Parrot should be placed within the same genus, Pezoporus. The closest relatives are the small parrots in the genus Neophema and the Budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus. Despite similarities in colour, it does not appear close to the Kakapo, Strigops habroptilus, of New Zealand.
Habitat
Arid dense, low vegetation grasslands.
Behaviour
It makes it nest by placing a layer of small sticks in an expanded cavity at the end of a tunnel under a clump of a bush. 4 eggs are laid.
Highly nomadic.
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
