Broad-billed parrot

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The broad-billed parrot, also called the raven parrot (Lophopsittacus mauritianus), was a large, extinct parrot that lived only on Mauritius in the Mascarene Islands. It disappeared sometime in the late 17th century, probably by the 1680s, after humans arrived and forests were cleared and invasive animals arrived.

Discovery and names
The first European accounts that mention this bird come from Dutch ships around 1598–1601, when sailors called it an “Indian raven” or “Indian crow.” They were described in journals from the Dutch voyage led by Jacob van Neck, and the 1601 Gelderland ship journal contained the earliest illustration of the parrot, along with the famous dodo. For centuries the bird was known mainly from these accounts and a few depictions.

The first physical remains were subfossil jaws found in the Mare aux Songes swamp, described in 1866 by Richard Owen as a large parrot, with the scientific name Psittacus mauritianus. A crucial link came in 1868–1869, when a detailed 1601 drawing was rediscovered and matched to the subfossil bones, showing that the animal known from fossils and the bird described in the journals were the same species. Because its skull and crest were so unusual, Alfred Newton established its own genus in 1875, Lophopsittacus (from Greek for “crest parrot”). Since then, researchers have debated exactly where it fits among parrots, with different scientists proposing relations to other Mascarene parrots or to the tribe Psittaculini.

Physical appearance
The broad-billed parrot stood out for its large head and a prominent crest of feathers on the front of its head. It had an extremely large beak, comparable in size to that of the hyacinth macaw, suggesting it could crack hard seeds. Substantial sexual dimorphism was evident in the bones: males were larger than females, not only in overall size but in the size of the skull as well—the largest difference seen among living parrots. The exact color pattern is not known from soft tissues, but accounts mentioned multiple colors, including a blue head and possibly a red body and beak. Some later interpretations suggested a bright color pattern, while others proposed a more muted palette; the true coloration remains uncertain.

Flight and behavior
There has been considerable debate about whether the broad-billed parrot could fly. The 1601 Gelderland drawing and later reconstructions show a large bird with strong-looking jaws and wings that suggest some flying ability, though perhaps not strong, especially if the bird spent a lot of time on the ground or in dense forests. The skull and keel of the sternum were reduced, but not to the extent seen in completely flightless island parrots, so it was likely a weak flyer rather than flightless. Accounts from captivity in the era described the species as aggressive and difficult to keep, which may reflect temperament rather than flight ability.

Ecology and diet
The beak was well suited to cracking hard foods, so the broad-billed parrot likely fed on large seeds and tough fruits. Some researchers compared its feeding style to that of macaws, which crack hard seeds with powerful bills. Subfossil evidence and comparisons with related species suggest it was a forest-dwelling bird that may have foraged both on the ground and in trees, and it probably nested in cavities. Its role in the ecosystem may have included dispersing large seeds, a function shared by several other extinct Mascarene birds.

Habitat and extinction
Mauritius’s forests were largely destroyed after humans arrived, eliminating many habitats and exposing ground-nesting and sheltering species to predators like rats and crab-eating macaques. Hunting is also suggested as a contributing factor, though some researchers note that there are few explicit records of people hunting broad-billed parrots. The bird was likely common near the coast and in drier habitats on the island’s leeward side, where deforestation and habitat loss would have had a severe impact. By the 1680s, the broad-billed parrot had vanished.

Relationships with other parrots
The exact evolutionary relationships of the broad-billed parrot are unclear. It has been linked with the Mascarene parrots and placed in the tribe Psittaculini, but its exact closest relatives remain uncertain. Some researchers have suggested affinities with the Rodrigues parrot, while others have argued for more distant connections. The distinctive crest and skull features helped paleontologists decide to recognize a separate genus, even as they debated its precise place on the parrot family tree.

Legacy
Today, only the echo parakeet remains among Mauritius’s native parrots; the broad-billed parrot is one of many Mascarene birds that went extinct after human settlement. Studying its bones and the 1601 illustration helps scientists understand how island life, ecological roles, and human impact shaped the fate of large, specialized parrots. Modern work continues to refine our knowledge of its appearance, diet, and relationships, but its colorful, crested face and huge beak remain a striking reminder of Mauritius’s vanished fauna.