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Swift Parrot
Lathamus discolor
Australia's Threatened Species Category
Critically Endangered
Listed since: Wed May 04 2016 14:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
IUCN's Threatened Species Category
Critically Endangered
Listed since: Sat Jul 07 2018 14:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)
Population trend: Decreasing
Other names: None
Priority Species? Yes
The Australian government's Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 selected over 100 priority species derived from consultation with threatened species experts and the wider community. While all species are important, focusing on a limited number of species can help target effort and resources so that outcomes can be achieved, measured and shared.
Description
The swift parrot is a small parrot which breeds in colonies in blue gum forest of south-east Tasmania in tree hollows and they have high site fiedelity. The entire population migrates to the mainland for winter and disperses widely and forages on flowers and psyllid lerps in eucalypts.
Threats
Until recently the main threat to swift parrots was thought to be habitat loss and alteration within breeding and drought refuge habitats. However, predation on the nest by sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) is now considered to pose a significant threat to the species, as sugar gliders take not only the young or eggs in the nest but also often kill the sitting female.
Quollity Conservation Hub's Overall Priority Score
50
Average life span:
Number of young produced each year:
Number of breeding events each year:
> 10 yrs
Several (> 3 - < 10)
One
Minimum sexual maturity age:
Unknown
Who is helping?
Useful links for more detailed information on this species
DCCEEW - Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
SPRAT - DCCEEW Species Profile and Threats Database
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