Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) - BirdLife species factsheet

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CR	Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis

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2010 IUCN Red List Category (as evaluated by BirdLife International - the official Red List Authority for birds for IUCN): Critically Endangered

Justification After no confirmed records since 1990, despite several dedicated searches and publicity campaigns, this species was rediscovered in 2005 in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and a dead juvenile bird was found in Diamantina National Park, Queensland in 2006. It may occur at low density elsewhere in its former range, because it is easily overlooked. It is likely to have declined as a result of a number of threats, and the remaining population may be tiny but possibly subject to fluctuations. For these reasons it is treated as Critically Endangered, but if survey work in the future confirms that the species is in fact more common than current estimates suggest it may warrant downlisting.

Family/Sub-family Psittacidae

Species name author Gould, 1861

Taxonomic source(s) Christidis and Boles (1994), Christidis and Boles (2008), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Synonyms Geopsittacus occidentalis Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 22-25 cm. 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. Similar spp. 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. Voice Said to have low, two-note or drawn-out whistle, audible at a distance; and a frog-like croak.

Population estimate	Population trend	Range estimate (breeding/resident)	Country endemic?
<50	unknown	-	Yes

Range & population Pezoporus occidentalis is endemic to Australia, where historical records are spread throughout the arid and semi-arid zones. There were comparatively few confirmed records from the 20th century. At least five dedicated searches and two broad-scale publicity campaigns in the 1990s failed to confirm the existence of any population, with only one authenticated record from near Boulia, north-western Queensland, in 1990. However, three birds were reported at Minga Qwirriawirrie Well near the Fortescue Marshes in the Pilbara region of Western Australia in April 2005. Subsequent searches in 2005 and 2006 have failed to relocate the species, but this may have been because there had been recent rain, and so birds were not concentrating at the waterhole¹. A dead bird was found by Queensland Park and Wildlife Service Rangers in Diamantina National Park, Queensland in November 2006 having apparently collided with a fence some weeks before². It was positively identified by Queensland Museum. Flood rains in the Channel Country have prevented access to the area for follow-up surveys². It seems quite likely that this cryptic species occurs at a low density elsewhere in its former range as there have been unverified sight records from inland regions of all mainland states and the Northern Territory. However, there has almost certainly been a decline in abundance, most likely as a result of predation by non-native mammals.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: 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. The recent 2005 record involved birds drinking at a water hole which may have been drawn from their typical habitat to drink¹. It has been suggested that the species has a similar metabolism to rodents as it is active at night. This behaviour may help it retain water, most of which is obtained through its diet. Therefore, drinking may only occur in dry circumstances making the species difficult to locate in wet years¹.

Threats Threats are extrapolated from their presumed effects on medium-sized, arid-zone mammals, and include predation by feral cats and foxes, altered fire regimes, competition for food, degradation of habitat near water by stock or rabbits, and reduced availability of water as a result of over-use by feral camels. One early account suggests the decline at Innaminka and Alice Springs coincided with the arrival of feral cats.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I. Appeals for information leading to the rediscovery of the species have received much publicity in arid Australia, especially in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. A National Night Parrot Network has been formed recently in direct response to the recent Diamantina specimen, to assist with information exchange and to encourage action by relevant organisations. Recent and ongoing searches in the Pilbara have concentrated on developing methods to find birds. A GIS analysis of existing records has been commenced with the aim of identifying ways to focus search efforts spatially and temporally. A survey took place in the Pilbara in November-December 2006 and further surveys were planned here in 2007 and 2008, and possibly also in Queensland.

Conservation measures proposed Develop alternative detection techniques, particularly the use of a national team of dogs. Complete the current GIS analysis of recent and historic records against habitat to derive a population estimate for the species and identify priority areas to conduct searches. Develop captive-breeding and release techniques using Pezoporus w. wallicus. Encourage individuals or voluntary organisations to follow up any plausible reports providing appropriate logistic support. Develop a contingency plan for any site where birds are found, including a strategy for handling publicity, initiation of ecological studies, capture of birds to establish captive population, and initiation of fire management and predator control.

References Garnett and Crowley (2000). 1. M. J. Bamford and B. M. Metcalf in litt. (2005). 2. Birds Australia in litt. (2007).

Further web sources of information

Australian Govt - Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000 - Recovery Outline

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Stephen Garnett (Charles Darwin University), Rachel McClellan (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Mike J. Bamford (Bamford Consulting Ecologists), Allan Burbidge (Department of Environment & Conservation, WA), Leo Joseph (CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems), B. M. Metcalf (Bamford Consulting Ecologists)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2010) Species factsheet: Pezoporus occidentalis. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 30/7/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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