Ground Parrot
A species of Cryptic Australian Parrots Scientific name : Pezoporus wallicus Genus : Cryptic Australian Parrots
Ground Parrot, A species of Cryptic Australian Parrots
Botanical name: Pezoporus wallicus
Genus: Cryptic Australian Parrots
Content
Description General Info
Description
Up to 30 cm long. Plumage grass green, each feather with black and yellow markings; narrow orange-red band to forehead; head, nape, upper back and breast green, each feather with black shaft marking; feathers of abdomen, thighs and under tail-coverts greenish yellow with black barring; under wing-coverts green; primary coverts green; flight-feathers green with pale stripe across them; underside of flight-feathers with pale yellow wing-stripe; upperside of tail-feathers green with yellowish striped markings, underside brownish; outer tail-feathers yellow with brownish-black striping; bill greyish brown to horn-colour; cere greyish pink; narrow periophthalmic ring pale grey; iris whitish yellow; longish feet greyish brown; claws not so curved as other parrots. Immatures as adults, but with slightly duller plumage; orange-red band to forehead absent; head, nape, upper back and breast green, each feather with distinct black shaft markings; tail shorter; iris brown. 
Size
30 cm
Feeding Habits
Ground Parrot primarily consumes varied seeds, green shoots, and particularly favors buttongrass. Ground Parrot forages on the ground, ingests 35 different seed types, and exhibits preferences shaped by local flora, like Restionaceae in Tasmania.
Habitat
The ground Parrot typically inhabits marshy coastal plains, reed beds with sparse bushes, and is tightly associated with button grass regions. Its range extends across coastal graminoid heaths and adjacent montane heathlands up to 1800 meters, with a preference for areas that have experienced burning, peaking at 5–10 years post-burn in shrub-dominated heaths and 15–18 years in sedge and grass tree-dominated heaths. These bird populations seek out drier habitats from mid-autumn to late spring and wetter areas in summer to early autumn, tracking seed availability. They are also found, possibly seasonally, in estuarine flats, swampy lands with reed patches, grasslands, pastures, and in Tasmania, within buttongrass moorlands that feature a complex of graminoid heath, scrub, and sedgelands.
Dite type
Herbivorous
General Info
Distribution Area
Extreme southeast of Queensland to southwest Australia (scattered in small groups); Tasmania and some off-shore islands.
Species Status
Only found in certain localities; threatened in parts of its range by cultivation of large coastal areas, but also foxes, cats and fire; alleged to have strong scent and therefore easily disturbed by dogs.
Scientific Classification
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