NT
Princess Parrot Polytelis alexandrae



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
Christidis, L. and Boles, W.E. 2008. Systematics and Taxonomy of Australian Birds. CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Australia.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - D1

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2022 Near Threatened D1
2016 Near Threatened C2a(ii)
2012 Near Threatened C2a(ii)
2008 Near Threatened C2a(ii)
2004 Near Threatened
2000 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1996 Vulnerable
1994 Vulnerable
1988 Threatened
Species attributes

Migratory status nomadic Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Australia
Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 1,995,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size 900-10000 mature individuals poor suspected 2020
Population trend stable medium inferred 1998-2008
Generation length 5.79 years - - -
Number of subpopulations 1 - - -
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation 100% - - -

Population justification: There have been three reports of large concentrations of Princess Parrots in the last fifty years: up to 300 on Canning Stock Route in the early 1990s (Carter 1993), a maximum of 172 at the best-known breeding event, during 2010 on the eastern edge of their range, a region which was also occupied in 1894 (Pavey et al. 2014), and a flock of at least 110 at Newhaven Reserve in winter 2012 (C. Pavey unpublished). In the last decade, however, there have been sightings over a large range in the Great Victoria, Little Sandy and Gibson Deserts both before and during the most recent documented breeding event suggesting a population at least ten times that number, so the maximum population size is suspected to be c.10,000 mature individuals but this requires confirmation. The population is thought to vary substantially in response to conditions, and is suspected to number fewer than 1,000 when at minimum (Pavey et al. 2021).

Trend justification: Earlier suggestions that the species is declining (Reid and Fleming 1992) were made before the 2010 breeding event in central Australia and the extreme variability in records across the range confounds any change in distribution. As a result the population is thought to be stable.


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Australia extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Desert Hot suitable resident
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical Dry major resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Dry major resident
Altitude 0 - 800 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals - Intentional use (species is the target) Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Unknown Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Climate change & severe weather Temperature extremes Timing Scope Severity Impact
Future Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Camelus dromedarius Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Competition, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Felis catus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Oryctolagus cuniculus Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Competition
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Ovis aries Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Competition
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Vulpes vulpes Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Reduced reproductive success, Species mortality
Natural system modifications Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 5
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem degradation
Natural system modifications Other ecosystem modifications Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Negligible declines Low Impact: 4
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Utilisation
Purpose Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture national

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Princess Parrot Polytelis alexandrae. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/princess-parrot-polytelis-alexandrae on 25/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 25/12/2024.