Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis)
[order] PSITTACIFORMES | [family] Psittacidae | [latin] Pezoporus occidentalis | [authority] Gould, 1861 | [UK] Night Parrot | [FR] Perruche nocturne | [DE] Hohlensittich | [ES] Perico Nocturno | [NL] Nachtpapegaai | [copyright picture] Birdlife
Subspecies
Monotypic species
Genus
The genus Pezoporus contains three Australian species: the Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) and the cryptic ground parrots, the Eastern Ground Parrot (Pezoporus wallicus) and the Western Ground Parrot (Pezoporus flaviventris). The night parrot was previously separated in a distinct genus, Geopsittacus. The genus is considered part of the tribe Platycercini or, if this is considered a subfamily, the monotypic tribe Pezoporini. The phylogenetic position of the genus Pezoporus within the parrot family remains unclear
Physical charateristics
Short-tailed, dumpy parrot. Sexes alike. Adult predominantly green, grading to yellow underparts, with extensive fine black markings. Mainly dark grey upperwing with narrow, pale yellow wing-bar. Grey-green underwing with broad wing-bar. Juvenile probably similar but duller. Distinguished from Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus by larger size, shorter tail, terrestrial nature and furtive nocturnal habitshabits – but note that quite a few records of Night Parrots are from the day time, especially if flushed. Superficially similar Ground Parrot Pezoporuswallicus has longer tail and different range and habitat.
Range
Australasia : Central Australia
Habitat
Most specimens have been obtained from hummock grasslands Triodia-Plechtrachne or chenopod shrublands. However, the most recent specimen was from Mitchell grassland Astrebla spp. with scattered chenopods, although this may have been a dispersing bird. It may persist in chenopod shrublands during dry years, moving into grassland after there is sufficient rain to set seed.
Reproduction
The nest is constructed on the ground or very low in dense vegetation, such as spinifex clump. It is unusual for a parrot to build a nest. It may lay up to six eggs however it is usually around two to four and prefers breeding after heavy rain, so potentially at any time of the year in inland Australia.
Feeding habits
The diet is said to be granivorous but may also eat some herbage and it has been proposed that they may forage by digging into soil for roots or tubers. However, this is based solely on the presence of caked-on soil in the upper mandibles of museum specimens. It is also reported to feed on seeding spinifex but as with many reports on this species, it is not known if this is normal or was under exceptional conditions. It is noted that it is very rare for a granivorous bird to be nocturnal.
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