For the runtime engine for Perl 6, see Parrot virtual machine.

Parrots
Rainbow Lorikeet s
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Family: Psittacidae
Genera
Many: see text.

A parrot is any of the many birds belonging to the family Psittacidae. Parrots have a characteristic curved beak shape with the upper mandible having slight mobility in the joint with the skull and a generally erect stance. All parrots are zygodactyl, having the four toes on each foot placed two at the front and two back. Some types of parrots include amazon, conure, lorikeet, lory, lovebird, macaw, parakeet, parrotlet, and rosella.

Along with the cockatoo family (the Cacatuidae), the parrot family makes up the order Psittaciformes. Confusingly, the term "parrot" can be used in either the narrow sense of the parrot family Psittacidae or the broad sense of the order Psittaciformes.

Birds of the parrot family can be found in most of the warm parts of the world, including India, South East Asia and West Africa, with one species, now extinct, in the United States (the Carolina Parakeet). By far the greatest number of parrot species, however, come from Australasia, South America and Central America.

While most birds have a hinged lower mandible (jaw) and a fixed upper mandible, in parrots both the upper and lower mandibles are hinged. This makes them look a bit comical when they yawn. While most birds have three toes pointing forward and one toe pointing rearward, parrots have two forward-facing toes and two rearward-facing toes. This foot structure is termed "zygodactyl."

Many species can imitate human speech or other sounds, and at least one researcher, Irene Pepperberg has made controversial claims for the learning ability of one species; an African Grey Parrot Alex, has been trained to use words to identify objects, describe them, count them, and even answer complex questions such as "How many red squares?" (with over 80% accuracy). Other scholars claim that parrots are only repeating words with no idea of their meanings and point to Pepperberg's results as being nothing but an expression of operant conditioning (given the nature of Pepperberg's actual tests, this is ludicrous. The real question is not whether parrots use language - some do - but whether they use it generatively).

Parrots are kept as pets. Often the wings of such birds are clipped, but many people keep flighted pet parrots, allowing the birds to roam their homes. Some parrots, including the conures, macaws, amazons,cockatoos, cockatiels, and budgerigars are said to make good family pets. While they can be rewarding, they are also quite demanding. Intellectually and emotionally they are surprisingly like two year old humans - imagine having a two year old for 50 years. Cockatiels and budgies are often considered good birds for beginners (they cost less, don't live as long, and less likely to take over than some of the larger birds). Information on care can be found at How to care for a pet cockatoo.

ORDER PSITTACIFORMES

• Family Cacatuidae: cockatoos
• Family Psittacidae
  • Subfamily Loriinae: 12 genera with 53 species of lorikeets and lories, centered in New Guinea, spreading to Australia, Indonesia, and the islands of the south Pacific. (Sometimes classed as a full family and thus termed Loriidae.)
  • Subfamily Psittacinae : subdivided into nine tribes:
  • Tribe Psittrichadini : Pesquet's Parrot
  • Tribe Nestorini: 3 species in 1 genus, the Kea and Kaka of New Zealand and the extinct Norfolk Island Kaka
  • Tribe Strigopini: Kakapo
  • Tribe Micropsittini: 6 speces of pygmy parrot, all in a single genus
  • Tribe Cyclopsitticini : fig parrots, 6 species in 3 genera, all from New Guinea or nearby
  • Tribe Platycercini: 37 species in 14 genera, including the rosella s
  • Tribe Psittaculini : Paleotropic psittaculine parrots, 66 species in 12 genera, distributed from India to Australasia
  • Tribe Psittacini : Afrotropical parrots, 12 species in 3 genera
  • Tribe Arini : Neotropical parrots, 148 species in 30 genera

Species list

Subfamily Loriinae

• Black Lory , Chalcopsitta atra
• Brown Lory , Chalcopsitta duivenbodei
• Yellow-streaked Lory , Chalcopsitta sintillata
• Cardinal Lory , Chalcopsitta cardinalis
• Red-and-blue Lory , Eos histrio
• Violet-necked Lory , Eos squamata
• Red Lory , Eos bornea
• Blue-streaked Lory , Eos reticulata
• Black-winged Lory , Eos cyanogenia
• Blue-eared Lory , Eos semilarvata
• Dusky Lory , Pseudeos fuscata
• Ornate Lorikeet , Trichoglossus ornatus
• Rainbow Lorikeet , Trichoglossus haematodus
• Olive-headed Lorikeet , Trichoglossus euteles
• Yellow-and-green Lorikeet , Trichoglossus flavoviridis
• Mindanao Lorikeet , Trichoglossus johnstoniae
• Pohnpei Lorikeet , Trichoglossus rubiginosus
• Scaly-breasted Lorikeet , Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
• Varied Lorikeet , Psitteuteles versicolor
• Iris Lorikeet , Psitteuteles iris
• Goldie's Lorikeet , Psitteuteles goldiei
• Chattering Lory , Lorius garrulus
• Purple-naped Lory , Lorius domicella
• Black-capped Lory , Lorius lory
• Purple-bellied Lory , Lorius hypoinochrous
• White-naped Lory , Lorius albidinuchus
• Yellow-bibbed Lory , Lorius chlorocercus
• Collared Lory , Phigys solitarius
• Blue-crowned Lorikeet , Vini australis
• Rimatara Lorikeet , Vini kuhlii
• Henderson Lorikeet , Vini stepheni
• Blue Lorikeet , Vini peruviana
• Ultramarine Lorikeet , Vini ultramarina
• Musk Lorikeet , Glossopsitta concinna
• Little Lorikeet , Glossopsitta pusilla
• Purple-crowned Lorikeet , Glossopsitta porphyrocephala
• Palm Lorikeet , Charmosyna palmarum
• Red-chinned Lorikeet , Charmosyna rubrigularis
• Meek's Lorikeet , Charmosyna meeki
• Blue-fronted Lorikeet , Charmosyna toxopei
• Striated Lorikeet , Charmosyna multistriata
• Pygmy Lorikeet , Charmosyna wilhelminae
• Red-fronted Lorikeet , Charmosyna rubronotata
• Red-flanked Lorikeet , Charmosyna placentis
• New Caledonian Lorikeet , Charmosyna diadema
• Red-throated Lorikeet , Charmosyna amabilis
• Duchess Lorikeet , Charmosyna margarethae
• Fairy Lorikeet , Charmosyna pulchella
• Josephine's Lorikeet , Charmosyna josefinae
• Papuan Lorikeet , Charmosyna papou
• Plum-faced Lorikeet , Oreopsittacus arfaki
• Yellow-billed Lorikeet , Neopsittacus musschenbroekii
• Orange-billed Lorikeet , Neopsittacus pullicauda

Subfamily Psittacinae
Tribe Psittrichadini

• Pesquet's Parrot , Psittrichas fulgidus

Tribe Nestorini

• Kea, Nestor notabilis
• Kaka, Nestor meridionalis

Tribe Strigopini

• Kakapo, Strigops habroptilus

Tribe Micropsittini

• Yellow-capped Pygmy-Parrot , Micropsitta keiensis
• Geelvink Pygmy Parrot , Micropsitta geelvinkiana
• Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot , Micropsitta pusio
• Yellow-breasted Pygmy Parrot , Micropsitta meeki
• Green Pygmy Parrot , Micropsitta finschii
• Red-breasted Pygmy Parrot , Micropsitta bruijnii

Tribe Cyclopsitticini

• Orange-breasted Fig Parrot , Cyclopsitta gulielmitertii
• Double-eyed Fig Parrot , Cyclopsitta diophthalma
• Large Fig Parrot , Psittaculirostris desmarestii
• Edwards' Fig Parrot , Psittaculirostris edwardsii
• Salvadori's Fig Parrot , Psittaculirostris salvadorii
• Guaiabero , Bolbopsittacus lunulatus

Tribe Platycercini

• Crimson Shining Parrot , Prosopeia splendens
• Masked Shining Parrot , Prosopeia personata
• Red Shining Parrot , Prosopeia tabuensis
• Horned Parakeet , Eunymphicus cornutus
• Antipodes Parakeet , Cyanoramphus unicolor
• Red-fronted Parakeet, Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae
• Yellow-fronted Parakeet, Cyanoramphus auriceps
• Chatham Parakeet , Cyanoramphus forbesi
• Malherbe's Parakeet , Cyanoramphus malherbi
• Red-capped Parrot , Purpureicephalus spurius
• Port Lincoln Parrot , Barnardius zonarius
• Mallee Ringneck , Barnardius barnardi
• Green Rosella , Platycercus caledonicus
• Crimson Rosella, Platycercus elegans
• Yellow Rosella , Platycercus flaveolus
• Adelaide Rosella , Platycercus adelaidae
• Northern Rosella , Platycercus venustus
• Pale-headed Rosella , Platycercus adscitus
• Eastern Rosella, Platycercus eximius
• Western Rosella , Platycercus icterotis
• Bluebonnet , Northiella haematogaster
• Red-rumped Parrot, Psephotus haematonotus
• Mulga Parrot , Psephotus varius
• Hooded Parrot , Psephotus dissimilis
• Golden-shouldered Parrot , Psephotus chrysopterygius
• Paradise Parrot, Psephotus pulcherrimus
• Bourke's Parrot , Neopsephotus bourkii
• Blue-winged Parrot , Neophema chrysostoma
• Elegant Parrot , Neophema elegans
• Rock Parrot , Neophema petrophila
• Orange-bellied Parrot, Neophema chrysogaster
• Turquoise Parrot , Neophema pulchella
• Scarlet-chested Parrot , Neophema splendida
• Swift Parrot , Lathamus discolor
• Budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus
• Ground Parrot , Pezoporus wallicus
• Night Parrot, Geopsittacus occidentalis

Tribe Psittaculini

• Blue-rumped Parrot , Psittinus cyanurus
• Brehm's Tiger Parrot , Psittacella brehmii
• Painted Tiger Parrot , Psittacella picta
• Modest Tiger Parrot , Psittacella modesta
• Madarasz's Tiger Parrot , Psittacella madaraszi
• Red-cheeked Parrot , Geoffroyus geoffroyi
• Blue-collared Parrot , Geoffroyus simplex
• Singing Parrot , Geoffroyus heteroclitus
• Luzon Racquet-tail , Prioniturus montanus
• Mindanao Racquet-tail , Prioniturus waterstradti
• Blue-headed Racquet-tail , Prioniturus platenae
• Green Racquet-tail , Prioniturus luconensis
• Blue-crowned Racquet-tail , Prioniturus discurus
• Sulu Racquet-tail , Prioniturus verticalis
• Yellowish-breasted Racquet-tail , Prioniturus flavicans
• Golden-mantled Racquet-tail , Prioniturus platurus
• Buru Racquet-tail , Prioniturus mada
• Great-billed Parrot , Tanygnathus megalorynchos
• Blue-naped Parrot , Tanygnathus lucionensis
• Blue-backed Parrot , Tanygnathus sumatranus
• Black-lored Parrot , Tanygnathus gramineus
• Eclectus Parrot , Eclectus roratus
• Australian King Parrot , Alisterus scapularis
• Moluccan King Parrot , Alisterus amboinensis
• Papuan King Parrot , Alisterus chloropterus
• Olive-shouldered Parrot , Aprosmictus jonquillaceus
• Red-winged Parrot , Aprosmictus erythropterus
• Superb Parrot , Polytelis swainsonii
• Regent Parrot , Polytelis anthopeplus
• Princess Parrot , Polytelis alexandrae
• Alexandrine Parakeet, Psittacula eupatria
• Rose-ringed Parakeet, Psittacula krameri
• Mauritius Parakeet , Psittacula echo
• Newton's Parakeet, Psittacula exsul
• Slaty-headed Parakeet , Psittacula himalayana
• Grey-headed Parakeet , Psittacula finschii
• Plum-headed Parakeet, Psittacula cyanocephala
• Blossom-headed Parakeet, Psittacula roseata
• Malabar Parakeet , Psittacula columboides
• Layard's Parakeet, Psittacula calthropae
• Derbyan Parakeet , Psittacula derbiana
• Red-breasted Parakeet , Psittacula alexandri
• Nicobar Parakeet , Psittacula caniceps
• Long-tailed Parakeet , Psittacula longicauda
• Vernal Hanging Parrot, Loriculus vernalis
• Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Loriculus beryllinus
• Philippine Hanging Parrot , Loriculus philippensis
• Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot, Loriculus galgulus
• Sulawesi Hanging Parrot , Loriculus stigmatus
• Sula Hanging Parrot , Loriculus sclateri
• Moluccan Hanging Parrot , Loriculus amabilis
• Sangihe Hanging Parrot, Loriculus catamene
• Papuan Hanging Parrot , Loriculus aurantiifrons
• Green-fronted Hanging Parrot , Loriculus tener
• Pygmy Hanging Parrot , Loriculus exilis
• Yellow-throated Hanging Parrot , Loriculus pusillus
• Wallace's Hanging Parrot, Loriculus flosculus
• Grey-headed Lovebird , Agapornis canus
• Red-headed Lovebird , Agapornis pullarius
• Black-winged Lovebird , Agapornis taranta
• Black-collared Lovebird , Agapornis swinderniana
• Rosy-faced Lovebird , Agapornis roseicollis
• Fischer's Lovebird , Agapornis fischeri
• Yellow-collared Lovebird , Agapornis personatus
• Lilian's Lovebird , Agapornis lilianae
• Black-cheeked Lovebird , Agapornis nigrigenis

Tribe Psittacini

• Vasa Parrot , Coracopsis vasa
• Black Parrot , Coracopsis nigra
• African Grey Parrot, Psittacus erithacus
• Brown-necked Parrot , Poicephalus robustus
• Red-fronted Parrot , Poicephalus gulielmi
• Meyer's Parrot , Poicephalus meyeri
• Rueppell's Parrot , Poicephalus rueppellii
• Brown-headed Parrot , Poicephalus cryptoxanthus
• Niam-Niam Parrot , Poicephalus crassus
• Red-bellied Parrot , Poicephalus rufiventris
• Senegal Parrot, Poicephalus senegalus
• Yellow-fronted Parrot , Poicephalus flavifrons

Tribe Arini

• Hyacinth Macaw , Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
• Lear's Macaw , Anodorhynchus leari
• Spix's Macaw, Cyanopsitta spixii
• Blue-and-yellow Macaw , Ara ararauna
• Blue-throated Macaw , Ara glaucogularis
• Military Macaw , Ara militaris
• Great Green Macaw , Ara ambigua
• Scarlet Macaw, Ara macao
• Red-and-green Macaw , Ara chloroptera
• Red-fronted Macaw , Ara rubrogenys
• Chestnut-fronted Macaw , Ara severa
• Red-bellied Macaw , Orthopsittaca manilata
• Blue-headed Macaw , Propyrrhura couloni
• Blue-winged Macaw , Propyrrhura maracana
• Golden-collared Macaw , Propyrrhura auricollis
• Red-shouldered Macaw , Diopsittaca nobilis
• Thick-billed Parrot , Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha
• Maroon-fronted Parrot , Rhynchopsitta terrisi
• Yellow-eared Parrot , Ognorhynchus icterotis
• Golden Parakeet , Guarouba guarouba
• Blue-crowned Parakeet , Aratinga acuticaudata
• Green Parakeet , Aratinga holochlora
• Pacific Parakeet , Aratinga strenua
• Socorro Parakeet , Aratinga brevipes
• Red-throated Parakeet , Aratinga rubritorquis
• Scarlet-fronted Parakeet , Aratinga wagleri
• Mitred Parakeet , Aratinga mitrata
• Red-masked Parakeet , Aratinga erythrogenys
• Crimson-fronted Parakeet , Aratinga finschi
• White-eyed Parakeet , Aratinga leucophthalmus
• Cuban Parakeet , Aratinga euops
• Hispaniolan Parakeet , Aratinga chloroptera
• Sun Parakeet , Aratinga solstitialis
• Jandaya Parakeet , Aratinga jandaya
• Golden-capped Parakeet , Aratinga auricapilla
• Dusky-headed Parakeet , Aratinga weddellii
• Brown-throated Parakeet , Aratinga pertinax
• Olive-throated Parakeet , Aratinga nana
• Orange-fronted Parakeet , Aratinga canicularis
• Peach-fronted Parakeet , Aratinga aurea
• Caatinga Parakeet , Aratinga cactorum
• Nanday Parakeet , Nandayus nenday
• Golden-plumed Parakeet , Leptosittaca branickii
• Burrowing Parrot , Cyanoliseus patagonus
• Blue-throated Parakeet , Pyrrhura cruentata
• Blaze-winged Parakeet , Pyrrhura devillei
• Maroon-bellied Parakeet , Pyrrhura frontalis
• Crimson-bellied Parakeet , Pyrrhura perlata
• Pearly Parakeet , Pyrrhura lepida
• Green-cheeked conure, Pyrrhura molinae
• Painted Parakeet , Pyrrhura picta
• Fiery-shouldered Parakeet , Pyrrhura egregia
• White-eared Parakeet , Pyrrhura leucotis
• Santa Marta Parakeet , Pyrrhura viridicata
• Maroon-tailed Parakeet , Pyrrhura melanura
• El Oro Parakeet , Pyrrhura orcesi
• Black-capped Parakeet , Pyrrhura rupicola
• White-necked Parakeet , Pyrrhura albipectus
• Flame-winged Parakeet , Pyrrhura calliptera
• Red-eared Parakeet , Pyrrhura hoematotis
• Rose-headed Parakeet , Pyrrhura rhodocephala
• Sulphur-winged Parakeet , Pyrrhura hoffmanni
• Austral Parakeet , Enicognathus ferrugineus
• Slender-billed Parakeet , Enicognathus leptorhynchus
• Monk Parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus
• Cliff Parakeet , Myiopsitta luchsi
• Andean Parakeet , Bolborhynchus orbygnesius
• Barred Parakeet , Bolborhynchus lineola
• Rufous-fronted Parakeet , Bolborhynchus ferrugineifrons
• Grey-hooded Parakeet , Psilopsiagon aymara
• Mountain Parakeet , Psilopsiagon aurifrons
• Mexican Parrotlet , Forpus cyanopygius
• Green-rumped Parrotlet , Forpus passerinus
• Blue-winged Parrotlet , Forpus xanthopterygius
• Spectacled Parrotlet , Forpus conspicillatus
• Dusky-billed Parrotlet , Forpus sclateri
• Pacific Parrotlet , Forpus coelestis
• Yellow-faced Parrotlet , Forpus xanthops
• Plain Parakeet , Brotogeris tirica
• Canary-winged Parakeet , Brotogeris versicolurus
• Yellow-chevroned Parakeet , Brotogeris chiriri
• Gray-cheeked Parakeet , Brotogeris pyrrhopterus
• Orange-chinned Parakeet , Brotogeris jugularis
• Cobalt-winged Parakeet , Brotogeris cyanoptera
• Tui Parakeet , Brotogeris sanctithomae
• Golden-winged Parakeet , Brotogeris chrysopterus
• Tepui Parrotlet , Nannopsittaca panychlora
• Amazonian Parrotlet , Nannopsittaca dachilleae
• Lilac-tailed Parrotlet , Touit batavica
• Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet , Touit huetii
• Red-fronted Parrotlet , Touit costaricensis
• Blue-fronted Parrotlet , Touit dilectissima
• Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet , Touit purpurata
• Brown-backed Parrotlet , Touit melanonota
• Golden-tailed Parrotlet , Touit surda
• Spot-winged Parrotlet , Touit stictoptera
• Black-headed Parrot , Pionites melanocephala
• White-bellied Parrot , Pionites leucogaster
• Vulturine Parrot , Pionopsitta vulturina
• Brown-hooded Parrot , Pionopsitta haematotis
• Rose-faced Parrot , Pionopsitta pulchra
• Orange-cheeked Parrot , Pionopsitta barrabandi
• Saffron-headed Parrot , Pionopsitta pyrilia
• Caica Parrot , Pionopsitta caica
• Pileated Parrot , Pionopsitta pileata
• Black-winged Parrot , Hapalopsittaca melanotis
• Rusty-faced Parrot , Hapalopsittaca amazonina
• Indigo-winged Parrot , Hapalopsittaca fuertesi
• Red-faced Parrot , Hapalopsittaca pyrrhops
• Short-tailed Parrot , Graydidascalus brachyurus
• Blue-headed Parrot , Pionus menstruus
• Red-billed Parrot , Pionus sordidus
• Scaly-headed Parrot , Pionus maximiliani
• White-crowned Parrot , Pionus senilis
• Speckle-faced Parrot , Pionus tumultuosus
• Bronze-winged Parrot , Pionus chalcopterus
• Dusky Parrot , Pionus fuscus
• Cuban Parrot , Amazona leucocephala
• Yellow-billed Parrot , Amazona collaria
• Hispaniolan Parrot , Amazona ventralis
• Puerto Rican Parrot , Amazona vittata
• Yellow-lored Parrot , Amazona xantholora
• White-fronted Parrot , Amazona albifrons
• Black-billed Parrot , Amazona agilis
• Tucuman Parrot , Amazona tucumana
• Red-spectacled Parrot , Amazona pretrei
• Red-crowned Parrot , Amazona viridigenalis
• Lilac-crowned Parrot , Amazona finschi
• Red-lored Parrot , Amazona autumnalis
• Blue-cheeked Parrot , Amazona dufresniana
• Red-browed Parrot , Amazona rhodocorytha
• Red-tailed Parrot , Amazona brasiliensis
• Festive Parrot , Amazona festiva
• Yellow-faced Parrot , Amazona xanthops
• Yellow-shouldered Parrot , Amazona barbadensis
• Blue-fronted Parrot , Amazona aestiva
• Yellow-headed Parrot , Amazona oratrix
• Yellow-crowned Parrot , Amazona ochrocephala
• Yellow-naped Parrot, Amazona auropalliata
• Kawall's Parrot , Amazona kawalli
• Orange-winged Parrot , Amazona amazonica
• Scaly-naped Parrot , Amazona mercenaria
• Mealy Parrot , Amazona farinosa
• Vinaceous Parrot , Amazona vinacea
• St. Lucia Parrot , Amazona versicolor
• Red-necked Parrot , Amazona arausiaca
• St. Vincent Parrot , Amazona guildingii
• Imperial Parrot , Amazona imperialis
• Red-fan Parrot , Deroptyus accipitrinus
• Blue-bellied Parrot , Triclaria malachitacea

See also

Alphabetical list

External links

• Articles about flighted parrot-keeping
• Teaching parrots to fly to you on cue
• Modifying parrot behavior through operant conditioning
• Free Birds Stories of flighted parrot-keeping