True parrot
True parrots | |
---|---|
Blue-and-yellow macaw at Jurong Bird Park | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Psittaciformes |
Superfamily: | Psittacoidea Illiger, 1811 |
Families | |
The true parrots are about 350 species of hook-billed, mostly
Overview
True parrots have a beak with a characteristic curved shape, the jaw with a mobility slightly higher than where it connects with the skull, and a generally upright position. They also have a large cranial capacity and are one of the most intelligent bird groups. They are good fliers and skillful climbers on branches of trees.
Some species can
Like most parrots, the Psittacidae are primarily seed eaters. Some variation is seen in the diet of individual species, with fruits, nuts, leaves, and even insects and other animal prey being taken on occasion by some species. The lorikeets are predominantly nectar feeders; many other parrots drink nectar, as well. Most Psittacidae are cavity-nesting birds which form monogamous pair bonds.
Distribution and habitat
The true parrots are distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, mostly in the
Conservation status
Many species are classified as
About 18 species of parrots have gone extinct since 1500 (see
Taxonomy
The parrot family Psittacidae (along with the family Cacatuidae comprising the order Psittaciformes) was traditionally considered to contain two
The following classification is based on the most recent proposal, which in turn is based on all the relevant recent findings.[4][6][7][8][9][10][11]
Family Psittacidae, New World and African parrots
- Subfamily Psittacinae: Two African genera, Psittacus and Poicephalus
- Subfamily Arinae
- Tribe Arini: 17 genera, and one extinct genus
- Tribe Androglossini: seven genera
- clade (proposed tribe Amoropsittacini) four genera
- clade (proposed tribe Forpini) one genus
- (other tribes) five genera
Family Psittrichasiidae, Indian Ocean island parrots
- Subfamily Psittrichasinae: one species, Pesquet's parrot
- Subfamily Coracopsinae: one genus with several species
Family Psittaculidae, Asian and Australasian parrots, and lovebirds
- Subfamily Platycercinae
- Tribe Pezoporini: ground parrots and allies
- Tribe Platycercini: broad-tailed parrots
- Subfamily Psittacellinae: one genus (Psittacella) with several species
- Subfamily Loriinae
- Tribe Loriini: lories and lorikeets
- Tribe Melopsittacini: one species, the budgerigar
- Tribe Cyclopsittini: fig parrots
- Tribe
- Subfamily Agapornithinae: three genera
- Subfamily Psittaculinae
- Tribe Polytelini: three genera
- Tribe Psittaculini: Asian psittacines
- Tribe Micropsittini: pygmy parrots
Species lists
- Species list sortable alphabetically by common or scientific name
- Species list in taxonomic order
Gallery
-
Two true parrots in the branches
References
- PMID 15341748. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
- ISBN 2-8317-0504-5. Chapter 1. vii.
- ISBN 2-8317-0504-5. Chapter 2. page 12.
- ^ .
- ^ del Hoyo (1997). Handbook of Birds of the World, Vol.4. Lynx Editions. p. 281.
- PMID 21419232.
- .
- PMID 21453777.
- PMID 18653733.
- PMID 19699808.
- PMID 16099384.
Further reading
- Bruce Thomas Boehner - Parrot Culture. Our 2,500-year-Long Fascination with the World's Most Talkative Bird (2004)
Notes
- parrots, but not classified as true parrots.
- ^ 4 species are ground dwelling: three in genus Pezoporus and the Antipodes parakeet.
External links
- "True parrot" at the Encyclopedia of Life
- "Psittacidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
- Parrot videos on the Internet Bird Collection