Please note: The Impressions 2024 catalogue incorrectly stated that the Ground Parrots Limited-Edition Medallion Collection was to include a foiled numbering on the cover. However, the foiling on the cover is only applied to the title.

Australia is renowned for its diverse avifauna, being home to around 800 bird species. This includes around 55 extant species of parrots (Order Psittaciformes, Family Psittaculidae). These colourful, cacophonous birds are conspicuous and showy exemplars of our native birdlife. Two physical attributes characterise them, setting them apart from other bird species: a broad downturned beak and zygodactylous feet (two forward-facing toes and two backward facing).

Parrots typically spend much time in the tree canopy. These primarily vegetarian birds crack seeds and nuts with their powerful beaks and most depend on mature trees with established hollows for nesting. But there are exceptions to this. Of the five terrestrial parrot species that occur worldwide, three of these are endemic to Australia: the Night Parrot, Western Ground Parrot, and Eastern Ground Parrot; the other two are endemic to New Zealand (Kea and Antipodes Parakeet). Unlike most other parrot species and as their name suggests, ground parrots spend much of their time on the ground, where they build shallow nests of loosely knit sticks in low-lying thicket.

All three Australian ground parrots are notoriously shy and elusive, and they mainly occupy areas of dense tussock and grasses or coastal low heathlands. Three to nine years after fires, when the undergrowth is thick, and before taller flora species such as banksia get a foothold, is ideal habitat for these species. While the three species may be ground-dwelling, they are nevertheless reasonably strong fliers, though generally they run to avoid danger rather than fly. If they are flushed out of hiding, they may fly low for a distance and then drop back into the dense habitat. Their terrestrial behaviour and precise habitat requirements aggravate the parlous state of all three species.

Includes stamps from the Australian Ground Parrots stamp issue, released on 13 February 2024, in unique stamp configuration.