Golden-shouldered Parrot

Critically Endangered

A rare Cape York parrot whose survival depends on open grasslands, termite mounds and careful habitat restoration.

Quick facts to share

It is found only on Cape York Peninsula.
The Golden-shouldered Parrot lives in tropical savanna woodlands and open grasslands in far north Queensland.

It nests inside termite mounds.
This bird digs nesting chambers into old termite mounds, making its breeding habits highly specialised.

Fewer than 1,000 are thought to remain in the wild.
Current estimates suggest there may be as few as 770 Golden-shouldered Parrots left.

Artemis Station is one of its key remaining places.
Once a stronghold for the species, Artemis is now the focus of urgent on-ground conservation work.

About the bird

The Golden-shouldered Parrot (Psephotellus chrysopterygius) is a small Australian parrot with bright green plumage, golden-yellow shoulders, turquoise-blue wing markings and soft peach to salmon tones across the belly.

It is quiet, colourful and easy to miss unless you know where to look. Known as Alwal to the Olkola people, this bird is deeply connected to Cape York country and the health of its open grassy landscapes.

Read more about the GSP over at the Avian Journals. 

Extended read

Why LYFER chose this bird

The Golden-shouldered Parrot is more than a beautiful bird. Its story is tied to grasslands, fire, country, nesting places and the balance of a whole landscape.

Through the LYFER Endangered Birds Range, we are helping carry the story of the Golden-shouldered Parrot into everyday conversation.

The colours behind the piece

The Golden-shouldered Parrot’s green, golden-yellow, turquoise-blue and soft peach plumage inspired the Golden-shouldered Parrot pieces in the LYFER Endangered Birds Range.

The tee does not simply feature the bird. It draws from the bird’s own colours to create something connected to the species behind it.

Why the Golden-shouldered Parrot is at risk

Since the 1920s, the Golden-shouldered Parrot has disappeared from more than half of its original range. Habitat change has reduced the open grasslands and open woodlands the species depends on for feeding, nesting and avoiding predators.

At Artemis Station, increased tree and shrub density has transformed parts of the landscape. As open grassland closes in, predators can become more numerous and more effective, placing pressure on adult parrots, nestlings and eggs.

Land clearing, grazing, changed fire patterns, invasive species and predation all continue to affect the bird’s survival.

How Conservation Partners is helping

Through the Endangered Birds Range, LYFER supports Conservation Partners and their on-ground work for the Golden-shouldered Parrot on Cape York.

At Artemis Station, Conservation Partners is working to secure the remaining population through immediate interventions, including protecting nests from predators, managing meat ants, controlling feral cats and providing supplementary food in predator-safe structures.

Their longer-term work focuses on habitat restoration. Since 2019, Conservation Partners has been restoring open grassland structure across critical nesting areas, while protecting termite mounds and preventing soil erosion. Between 2019 and 2023, more than 60 hectares of nesting habitat were restored.

Ongoing monitoring is also central to the work. Individual parrots are colour-banded and tracked through field observations and camera monitoring, helping conservation teams measure survival, breeding success and the impact of their interventions.