Why was the night parrot once believed to be extinct?

The night parrot (Geopsittacus occidentalis) was long considered extinct because it is a highly elusive, nocturnal species native to Australia that remains hidden during the day by dozing under grass tussocks. Its secretive nature and specialized behavior—such as feeding at night on spinifex grass seeds and nesting in tunnel-like structures within bushes—made it extremely difficult to observe. The scientific community’s belief in its extinction persisted for decades until a dead specimen was discovered in 1990, confirming that the species had survived.1

It is important to note that the term "night parrot" is sometimes confused with the kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), a distinct, flightless, and nocturnal parrot from New Zealand. The kakapo was also feared extinct in the 1950s due to the introduction of predators like rats, cats, and ferrets, but small populations were later rediscovered, leading to intensive conservation efforts to save the species from total loss.23