Neopsittaconirmus palaeornis was originally described by Eichler (1943: 114; as Pflegeriella palaeornis) based on a single male from the Derbyan Parakeet, Psittacula derbiana (Fraser). Eichler (1943: 114) also examined a female, which appears to belong to the same species, found on a Blue Magpie Urocissa erythrorhyncha (Boddaert), almost certainly an accidental host. In his review of the genus Neopsittaconirmus, Guimarães (1974: 186) placed Pflegeriella palaeornis in that genus, and wrote: “Eichler’s description of this species is too deficient, and I had no specimens from the type-host.” Therefore, Guimarães was not able to describe it and compare it against the remaining species of Neopsittaconirmus.