At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The swift parrot is a fast-flying migratory parrot that breeds in Tasmania and winters on mainland Australia. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
It depends on flowering eucalypts and tree hollows for nesting.
Range & habitat
Breeds in Tasmania and migrates to mainland south-eastern Australia.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Loss of breeding and foraging trees
- Predation by introduced sugar gliders
- A small population
Why it matters
A migratory parrot squeezed between logging and introduced predators, the swift parrot is a flagship for Australia's threatened temperate woodlands.
Sources
Sources for Swift Parrot
- IUCN Red List — look up Swift Parrot (authoritative status)
- BirdLife International
Frequently Asked Questions
What threatens swift parrots while they nest?
On parts of Tasmania, introduced sugar gliders prey on nesting females and chicks in tree hollows, a major and unusual threat alongside the loss of nesting and feeding trees.
Why is the swift parrot Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite loss of breeding and foraging habitat, predation by introduced sugar gliders, and a small population. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: