Fun Ground Parrot Facts For Kids

The ground parrot is actually a combination of two species, the eastern ground parrot (Pezoporus wallicus) and the western ground parrot (Pezoporus flaviventris). These are both endemic to Australia. There are about 4,000 individuals of the eastern ground parrot species left in New South Wales and only 40-150 individuals of the western ground parrot species in their Cape Arid and Fitzgerald river habitat. The eastern ground parrot prefers coastal areas and heathlands as well as sedge lands. The western ground parrot favors forests that were burned decades ago but it is seen in newly growing burnt forests too. Both the ground parrot species are named so because these birds are mostly seen on the ground eating seeds and rarely in flight. And both species face predatory threats from foxes and feral cats. They are in decline due to habitat loss and wildfires. The IUCN classifies the ground parrot (western subspecies included) as a species of Least Concern but the Australian Government has listed the western ground parrot as a Critically Endangered species.

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What type of animal is a ground parrot?

The ground parrot is a bird.

What class of animal does a ground parrot belong to?

The ground parrot bird belongs to the Aves class of animals.

How many ground parrots are there in the world?

Some estimates say there are about 4,000 individual eastern ground parrots in New South Wales. There are less than 40-150 individual western ground parrots left in the world.

Where does a ground parrot live?

The ground parrot bird is native to Australia.

The eastern ground parrot is found in Queensland's extreme southeast. The range of this bird also extends to southwest Australia as well as Tasmania, Flinders Island, and Hunter Island. It is also found in the Maryborough district, south Victoria, and Fraser Island.

The western ground parrot bird was native along the western coasts of southwest Australia, from Geraldton to Perth to Israelite Bay. Today, only the Cape Arid National Parks, Fitzgerald River, the Waychinnicup-Many Peaks area, and the Nuytsland Nature Reserve see these birds.

What is a ground parrot's habitat?

The eastern ground parrot lives in tree-less coastal plains that are marshy, reed beds with fewer bushes, button-grass areas, sedge lands, and heathlands.

The western ground parrot lives in coastal heathlands with low-growing shrubs. It prefers forests that have remain unburnt for decades but ventures into newly regenerating forests too. The western ground parrot favors sedge lands and deep white sands.

Who do ground parrots live with?

Ground parrots are usually seen foraging on the ground, eating seeds alone. Eastern ground parrots are more likely to be seen in pairs and being territorial than western ground parrots who are very elusive.

How long does a ground parrot live?

Ground parrots have been known to live up to the age of 11 years.

How do they reproduce?

Ground parrots reproduce by mating and laying eggs.

The breeding season of eastern ground parrots is from September-January. Nests are built in the soil hidden under a bush with tussock over them. The nest material used is grass stalks, leaves, small twigs, and fern. The female lays three to four eggs and incubates them for three weeks. The young chicks are fed three times a day and they leave the nest three weeks after hatching and they roost 25 days later.

Western ground parrots also build their nests in depressions among vegetation that is prickly. Fledglings are born in September-November. The males are responsible for feeding the females in 'feeding arenas'. The nest site is about 1,312 ft (400 m) away from these feeding arenas and the females lay about five eggs. The young chicks leave the nest before they fledge with unsteady, short flights.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of the ground parrot species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature is Least Concern.

The western ground parrot is not listed by the IUCN specifically but is identified as Critically Endangered by the Australian Government.

What do ground parrots look like?

The eastern ground parrot is primarily grass green and has yellow and black markings on each feather. It also has a narrow and orange-red band on its forehead. The feathers on the nape, head, breast, and upper back are green with shaft markings that are black. The feathers on the thighs, abdomen, and under-tail coverts are greenish-yellow in color and also have black barring. The under-wing and primary coverts are both green. The flight feathers are also green but have a pale stripe, and their undersides are pale yellow. The tail feathers are green on the upperside and have striped markings that are yellowish in color. The underside of the tail feathers is brownish. The outer tail feathers are yellow and have brownish-black stripes. The bill of the eastern ground parrot is grayish brown and its cere is grayish pink. It also has a narrow, pale gray eye-ring and the eyes are whitish-yellow. The long feet are grayish-brown in color and the claws are less curved than other parrots. Both sexes look alike.

The juveniles are slightly duller than adults and do not have the orange-red band. The irises are dark brown and the tails are shorter.

The western ground parrot is similar-looking but its abdomen and under-tail covert feathers are bright yellow and have loose black barrings. The fledglings are gray or brown.

How cute are they?

Both the eastern and western ground parrots are remarkably beautiful birds. These birds are medium-sized parrots that are often hidden in the low green vegetation. Their bodies are adorned with gorgeous and patterned black and yellow markings that make them look like works of art. These birds also have dark brown irises, orange-red bands on their foreheads, and brown-pink beaks. They also have exquisite, long tails.

How do they communicate?

Ground parrots communicate via calls.

The calls of the eastern ground parrot come after sunset and before dawn. There are three to four bell-type notes followed by noticeably sharper notes that are ascending in pitch and end with a drawn-out note. Females of this species use a 'scree' rasping call to ask the males for food.

The western subspecies also use three to four bell-type notes when calling.

How big is a ground parrot?

Both the eastern and western ground parrots grow up to 12 in (30.5 cm) in length, which makes them three to four times bigger than Fischer's lovebirds, and about six times bigger than bee hummingbirds.

How fast can a ground parrot move?

Since they are ground-dwelling birds, ground parrots may move at 5 mph (8 kph) on the ground. And since they are parrots, they may fly at speeds of 40-50 mph (64.4-80.5 kph).

How much does a ground parrot weigh?

Ground parrots weigh 2.4-3.9 oz (68-110 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

The males and females of the ground parrot species are called cocks and hens respectively.

What would you call a baby ground parrot?

A baby ground parrot would be called a chick, a juvenile, or a fledgling.

What do they eat?

Ground parrots eat seeds, fruits, flowers, shrubs, grasses, and leaves.

These birds themselves get preyed upon by foxes and feral cats.

Are they dangerous?

No, ground parrots are not particularly dangerous birds.

Would they make a good pet?

Neither of the ground parrot birds should be taken as pets. They are both facing declines due to habitat loss.

Did you know...

A New Zealand ground parrot bird called the 'Kakapo' is the only flightless parrot in the world. It looks like ground parrots and wild-type budgerigars.

The Australian ground parrot family consists of the subspecies, the Tasmanian ground parrot, which is considered conspecific with the eastern ground parrot.

Another Pezoporus species apart from ground parrots is the night parrot, also endemic to Australia.

Can ground parrots fly?

Yes, they can fly but are rarely seen flying. These birds forage and build nests on the ground.

Why are ground parrots endangered?

The eastern ground parrot is threatened by coastal area cultivation and by feral cats and foxes.

The western ground parrots are also threatened by fox and cat predation. But wildfires, bushfires, and the Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback, a soil-borne disease that affects their food also contributes to the decline of these birds.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our mockingbird surprising facts and western kingbird fun facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable ground parrot coloring pages.

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