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Description
The Rodrigues parrot (Necropsittacus rodricanus), also known as the Leguat's parrot, is a species of parrot native to the coastal forests of the Rodrigues and is most closely related to the broad-billed parrot. It is about the size of a large cockatoo and its strong beak enable it to crack open hard seeds.

The Rodrigues parrot is green in color with a red beak and some red patches on its wings and tail feathers, resembling a great-billed parrot in general appearance, but with a larger head, which is also flat and depressed in comparison with other parrot species, and its tail feathers are longer. The broad-billed parrot prefers to feed on the branch, wires, and/or poles, although it occasionally also feed while on the ground. The Rodrigues parrot fills the similar ecological niches of New Zealand kakapos and even South and Central American macaws, feeding on various fruits and nuts native to the Rodrigues.

The conservation status of the Rodrigues parrot is "Vulnerable" due to habitat loss and invasive predators like rats. However, thanks to conservationists, the Rodrigues parrots are recovering and the nonnative predators are declining due to viruses that were brought to Rodrigues which only kills off rats. Historically, the Rodrigues parrots were unable to be kept as pets due to inefficient care, but that all changed in 1800s, when pet care had improved in exotic pets, and today, the Rodrigues parrot is one of the most famous exotic parrots kept as pets, being found in pet stores throughout Eurasia and North America, being descended from the few Rodrigues parrots that were taken from the Rodrigues.

Description
The Rodrigues parrot (Necropsittacus rodricanus), also known as the Leguat's parrot, is a species of parrot native to the coastal forests of the Rodrigues and is most closely related to the broad-billed parrot. It is about the size of a large cockatoo and its strong beak enable it to crack open hard seeds.

The Rodrigues parrot is green in color with a red beak and some red patches on its wings and tail feathers, resembling a great-billed parrot in general appearance, but with a larger head, which is also flat and depressed in comparison with other parrot species, and its tail feathers are longer. The broad-billed parrot prefers to feed on the branch, wires, and/or poles, although it occasionally also feed while on the ground. The Rodrigues parrot fills the similar ecological niches of New Zealand kakapos and even South and Central American macaws, feeding on various fruits and nuts native to the Rodrigues.

The conservation status of the Rodrigues parrot is "Vulnerable" due to habitat loss and invasive predators like rats. However, thanks to conservationists, the Rodrigues parrots are recovering and the nonnative predators are declining due to viruses that were brought to Rodrigues which only kills off rats. Historically, the Rodrigues parrots were unable to be kept as pets due to inefficient care, but that all changed in 1800s, when pet care had improved in exotic pets, and today, the Rodrigues parrot is one of the most famous exotic parrots kept as pets, being found in pet stores throughout Eurasia and North America, being descended from the few Rodrigues parrots that were taken from the Rodrigues.