Lord Howe parakeet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lord Howe parakeet |
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| Illustration by Keulemans, 1891 | |
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Cyanoramphus
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| Species: |
subflavescens
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The Lord Howe parakeet (Cyanoramphus subflavescens) was a type of parrot. It was also known as the Lord Howe red-fronted parakeet. This bird lived only on Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. This island is part of New South Wales, Australia. Sadly, the Lord Howe parakeet is now extinct.
Scientists first officially described this parakeet in 1891. For a while, some thought it was a subspecies of the red-crowned parakeet. But in 2012, the IOC World Bird List recognized it as its own unique species.
What Was the Lord Howe Parakeet?
The Lord Howe parakeet was a medium-sized bird. It had bright green feathers. Its head featured a striking crimson (deep red) cap. It also had a red stripe near its eyes.
This parakeet was a bit larger than similar birds. Its feathers were also a bit more yellow. The red markings on its head were not as widespread as on some other parakeets.
How Scientists Studied This Bird
Scientists study how different animals are related. This field is called biogeography. They look at where animals live and how they evolved. Based on this, they think the Lord Howe parakeet was closely related to the Norfolk Island green parrot. Some even thought it might be a subspecies of that bird.
Why the Lord Howe Parakeet Disappeared
The Lord Howe parakeet used to be very common. Many of these birds lived on the island. However, early settlers arrived on Lord Howe Island. They started farms and gardens. The parakeets would often eat their crops. Because of this, the settlers hunted the birds.
The last time anyone saw a Lord Howe parakeet was in 1869. After that, no more were ever recorded. This means the species became extinct.
Only two specimens of the Lord Howe parakeet still exist today. These are preserved birds that scientists can study. They were collected by John MacGillivray in 1853. This happened during a trip by the ship HMS Herald. These two specimens are now kept at the Natural History Museum in London. They are part of the famous John Gould collection.
