Lord Howe Parakeet

The Lord Howe parakeet, known scientifically as Cyanoramphus subflavescens, was a medium-sized parrot with a distinctive green plumage, complemented by a striking crimson cap and eye-stripe. This bird was slightly larger than its closest relatives, with a somewhat yellower hue to its feathers and less extensive red markings on the head.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Lord Howe parakeet, one would look for its green body, the red frontal band, and the red stripe through the eye. These features were set against a slightly yellower background color compared to similar species.

Extinction

Once abundant on Lord Howe Island, this parakeet faced persecution by early settlers due to its propensity to raid crops and gardens. The last known sighting of the bird was in 1869, marking its tragic decline to extinction.

Distribution

The Lord Howe parakeet was endemic to Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea, part of New South Wales, Australia. It was a species that thrived in this isolated location before human settlement.

Taxonomy

Initially described as a full species by Tommaso Salvadori in 1891, the Lord Howe parakeet has also been considered a subspecies of the red-crowned parakeet. In 2012, the IOC World Bird List recognized it as a distinct species. Pending molecular analysis, it is suggested that it may be most closely related to the Norfolk Island green parrot.

Conservation Status

The Lord Howe parakeet is classified as Extinct under the EPBC Act. Only two specimens remain, housed in the Natural History Museum, collected in 1853.

Similar Species

The Lord Howe parakeet was similar in appearance to the red-crowned parakeet and the Norfolk Island green parrot. However, it was distinguishable by its size, the yellowness of its plumage, and the extent of the red markings on its head.

In the spirit of Sir David Attenborough, we reflect on the Lord Howe parakeet with a sense of wonder for what was and a solemn reminder of the fragility of nature in the face of human expansion.