Swift parrot polyamory a new threat to critically endangered species' survival

Shortage of female swift parrots caused by sugar gliders wreaking 'havoc' on mating

Tasmania's critically endangered swift parrots are facing a new threat to survival - polyamory.

A study by researchers at the Australian National University, published in the Journal of Animal Ecology, has found that a chronic shortage of female swift parrots caused by intensive predation by sugar gliders has wreaked havoc on the bird's usually monogamous breeding habits and lowered the survival rate for young hatchlings.