Golden-shouldered Parrot

Critically Endangered

A Cape York parrot shaped by grasslands, fire, country and one very particular place to nest.

The Golden-shouldered Parrot (Psephotellus chrysopterygius) is a rare Australian parrot found only on Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland. It lives in tropical savanna woodlands and open grasslands, moving through the landscape with the seasons as food and nesting conditions change.

Known as Alwal to the Olkola people, this bird is deeply connected to country. It is also highly specialised, relying on open grassy habitats and old termite mounds, where it digs nesting chambers into the side of the mound.

The colours behind the piece

The Golden-shouldered Parrot is known for its bright green body, golden-yellow shoulder patch, turquoise-blue wing markings and soft peach to salmon tones across the belly.

These colours 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 plumage to create something connected to the species behind it.

Quick facts

Scientific name
Psephotellus chrysopterygius

Status
Endangered

Found in
Cape York Peninsula, far north Queensland

Habitat
Tropical savanna woodlands and open grasslands

Known as
Alwal to the Olkola people

Known for
Nesting in termite mounds

Estimated wild population
Fewer than 1,100 individuals

Why the Golden-shouldered Parrot is at risk

The Golden-shouldered Parrot has disappeared from more than half of its original range since the 1920s. Today, it survives in only a small part of Cape York Peninsula.

Its decline is closely tied to habitat change. Open grasslands have become thicker with trees and shrubs due to changed fire patterns, grazing pressure and land-use changes. As the landscape closes in, the parrots lose the open structure they need to feed, nest and watch for danger.

Predators also become harder to avoid. Feral cats, goannas, butcherbirds and other predators can place pressure on adults, nestlings and eggs, especially when nesting areas are already limited.

How Conservation Partners is helping

Through the Endangered Birds Range, LYFER supports Conservation Partners and their work with the Golden-shouldered Parrot on Cape York. A portion of sales from this range contributes to on-ground conservation work, including habitat restoration, predator management and long-term monitoring.

At Artemis Station, Conservation Partners is working to protect one of the remaining Golden-shouldered Parrot populations. Their work includes protecting nests from predators, managing meat ants, controlling feral cats, providing supplementary food in predator-safe structures, restoring open grassland habitat and monitoring individual birds.

Longer term, this work is helping rebuild the kind of open, grassy habitat the species needs to survive.

Why LYFER chose this bird

The Golden-shouldered Parrot is colourful, quiet and easy to miss unless you know where to look. Its story is also a reminder that birds are tied to the health of whole landscapes.

By wearing this piece, you are helping carry the story of the Golden-shouldered Parrot into everyday conversation.

Image: Conservation Partners