Photo: Elizabeth Gould (1804–1841) / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Night Parrot
Pezoporus occidentalis
Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) — Parrots & Cockatoos of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) is a member of the Psittaculidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 130 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Critically Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Psittaciformes
- Family Psittaculidae Old World Parrots
- Genus Pezoporus
- Species occidentalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 130 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Psittaculidae
- Order
- Psittaciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Not Evaluated
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Night Parrot is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Night Parrot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) is a member of the Psittaculidae family, within the order Psittaciformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU sw QLD (at least; c Australia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 130 g, with a wing length of about 14.2 cm and a tail of around 10 cm.
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 67,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Night Parrot?
The Night Parrot is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 130 g.
Where does the Night Parrot live?
The Night Parrot is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU sw QLD (at least; c Australia), where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Night Parrot belong to?
The Night Parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) belongs to the Psittaculidae family, in the order Psittaciformes.
What does the Night Parrot eat?
The Night Parrot is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Night Parrot migrate?
The Night Parrot is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Night Parrot endangered?
It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Critically Endangered is the highest risk category before extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Night Parrot make?
1 real field recording of the Night Parrot — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Night Parrot's range?
The Night Parrot has a mapped global range of about 67,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Psittaculidae
A field guide to the Psittaculidae family — 202 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.