		Advanced Search
	Home \| About Us \| Feedback \| Help \| Site Map

Home > Native Plants & Animals > Animals of Tasmania > Birds > Ground Parrot

Ground Parrot

The beautifully patterned ground parrot (Pezoporus wallicus) is a secretive bird found in buttongrass heath around the State. Although it also occurs on mainland Australia, the species is now only found there in fragmented populations where pockets of habitat remain undisturbed.

The ground parrot is one of only three ground-dwelling parrots in the world, the others being the extremely rare night parrot and New Zealand's highly endangered kakapo.

When disturbed, it flies swiftly just above the ground before dropping back into the vegetation again.

The presence of the bird is often only revealed by its characteristic dusk and dawn call, a clear, whistling sequence of notes which rise in pitch before fading. It is silent in flight.

Recording of sound provided by Dr Sally Bryant.

Tasmania Online | Service Tasmania

This page - http://www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/inter.nsf/WebPages/SJON-57X5ZV?open - was last published on 18 June 2009 by the Department of Primary Industries and Water. Questions concerning its content can be sent to NatureConservation Enquiries by using the feedback form, by mail to GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7001, or by telephone to 03 6233 6556.

Please read our disclaimer and copyright statements governing the information we provide on this site.

A text version of this page is also available.