Paradise Parrot

Also known as Ground Parrot, Beautiful Parakeet, Soldier Parrot, Antbed Parrot

Paradise parrots were strikingly patterned grass parakeets that nested almost exclusively inside terrestrial termite mounds, burrowing tunnels into sundried earth to lay clutches in hollowed-out chambers. Flocks spent much of their days foraging on open ground for native grass seeds, taking flight into nearby eucalyptus trees when startled. Severe overgrazing by domestic livestock, altered fire regimes, and feral cat predation triggered a catastrophic collapse, culminating in the last confirmed wild sighting in 1927.