True parrot

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True parrots
Blue-and-yellow macaw at Jurong Bird Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Superfamily: Psittacoidea
Illiger, 1811
Families

Psittacidae
Psittrichasiidae
Psittaculidae

The true parrots are about 350 species of hook-billed, mostly

lorikeets, eclectus, Amazon parrots, grey parrot, and budgerigar. Most true parrots are colourful and flighted, with a few notable exceptions.[Notes 2]

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

trachea known as the syrinx.[1]

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

Carolina parakeet), formerly in the United States. However, the larger populations are native to Australasia, South America, and Central America
.

Conservation status

Many species are classified as

habitat loss, and competition from invasive species have diminished wild populations, with parrots being subjected to more exploitation than any other group of birds.[2] Of the animals removed from the wild to be sold, very few survive during capture and transport, and those that do often die from poor conditions of captivity, poor diet, and stress. Measures taken to conserve the habitats of some high-profile charismatic species have also protected many of the less charismatic species living in the same ecosystems.[3]

About 18 species of parrots have gone extinct since 1500 (see

List of extinct birds#Psittaciformes
), nearly all in superfamily Psittacoidea.

Taxonomy

Psittaciformes
    
Psittacoidea
    
Psittacidae       

Arinae

Psittacinae

Cacatuoidea

Strigopoidea

Phylogeny and relationships of Psittacoidea[4]

The parrot family Psittacidae (along with the family Cacatuidae comprising the order Psittaciformes) was traditionally considered to contain two

lories and lorikeets).[5] However, the tree of the parrot family now has been reorganized under the superfamily Psittacoidea: family Psittacidae has been split into three families, tribes Strigopini and Nestorini split out and placed under superfamily Strigopoidea and a new monotypic superfamily Cacatuoidea created containing family Cacatuidae.[4]

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

Family Psittaculidae, Asian and Australasian parrots, and lovebirds

Species lists

Gallery

  • Two true parrots in the branches
    Two true parrots in the branches

References

Further reading

  • Bruce Thomas Boehner - Parrot Culture. Our 2,500-year-Long Fascination with the World's Most Talkative Bird (2004)

Notes

  1. parrots
    , but not classified as true parrots.
  2. ^ 4 species are ground dwelling: three in genus Pezoporus and the Antipodes parakeet.

External links