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12

Eastern Ground Parrot (Pezoporus wallicus) Alternate name(s): "Swamp Parrot*", "Button-grass Parrot*" Aboriginal name(s): "yulu yulu (ng)uRak" [tjapwurrung]; "goolinang" Size: 28-32 cm Weight: ca. 60-83 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Eastern Ground Parrots are relatively small, long-tailed parrots with highly cryptic plumage. The back (upperparts) is green with dark-grey scalloping. The front (underparts) is also green, with prominent dark-grey barring. The flight feathers are dark-grey with light edge-lining. The sides of the head are green without scalloping. The eyes, which have pale irises, are surrounded by grey eye-rings. The cere is dark-grey, with a red frontal band above it. The bill is grey; legs and feet, which have very long toes, are the colour of skin. Females have more prominent black shafts on the feathers on their cheeks than males. Juveniles are more brownish than adults. Their eyes are still dark and they do not have a frontal band. Their bill is horn-coloured. Twitcher's tip Compared to Night Parrots, Eastern Ground Parrots have a more greenish appearance and a much longer tail.

Taxonomy, classification See Eastern Ground Parrot at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Eastern Ground Parrot is available HERE . Eastern Ground Parrots are endemic to Australia. Their overall range extends along the Australian East coast, from the Great Sandy NP, near Gympie, QLD, in the North, across the Bass Strait, to the southern tip of Tasmania in the South. The range of nominate race "wallicus" is restricted to Tasmania, Flinders Island and Cape Barren Island. On the Australian continent the distribution of race "leachi" is becoming increasingly patchy, being restricted to only a small number of areas with remaining suitable habitats. They are found as far westward as just beyond Wilson's Promontory in South Gippsland, VIC. Eastern Ground Parrots live in marshy coastal plains without trees, such as heath, and reed beds with low shrubs, in particular areas with button grass.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "wallicus" H. Addis reports spotting an Eastern Ground Parrot, race "wallicus", in Hartz Mountains, TAS, in March 2021. Race "leachi" M. Eaton reports finding Eastern Ground Parrots, race "leachi", at Cooloola NP, QLD, in January 2019.

Photos

Race "wallicus"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Eastern Ground Parrot using the camouflage of its cryptic plumage to hide against the background of heath
(photo courtesy of H. Addis)
[Hartz Mountains, TAS, March 2021]

Overview of an Eastern Ground Parrot hiding in its favourite habitat, heath (photo courtesy of H. Addis)
[Hartz Mountains, TAS, March 2021]

Race "leachi"

ADULT

MALE

Near-dorsal view of a male(?) Eastern Ground Parrot - note the pale iris and the faint indication of a red frontal band; the bluish sheen is probably produced by a reflection of early morning light (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooloola NP, QLD, January 2019]

Dorsal view of a male(?) Eastern Ground Parrot (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooloola NP, QLD, January 2019]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female(?) Eastern Ground Parrot; note the prominent black shafts on the cheek feathers
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooloola NP, QLD, January 2019]

Partly obscured lateral view of a female(?) Eastern Ground Parrot; note the prominent black shafts on the cheeks
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooloola NP, QLD, January 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Eastern Ground Parrot; note the brownish iris and the horn-coloured bill
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooloola NP, QLD, January 2019]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Eastern Ground Parrot (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Cooloola NP, QLD, January 2019]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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