Parrots
Parrots, also known as psittacines (), are birds of the roughly 398 species in 92 genera comprising the order Psittaciformes (), found mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three superfamilies: the Psittacoide ...
, also known as psittacines (),
[ are the 402 ]species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of bird
Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweig ...
s that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical
The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in
the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...
and subtropical regions, of which 387 are extant. The order is subdivided into three superfamilies: the Psittacoidea
The true parrots are about 350 species of hook-billed, mostly herbivorous birds forming the superfamily Psittacoidea, one of the three superfamilies in the biological order Psittaciformes (parrots). True parrots are widespread, with species i ...
("true" parrots), the Cacatuoidea
A cockatoo is any of the 21 parrot species belonging to the family Cacatuidae, the only family in the superfamily Cacatuoidea. Along with the Psittacoidea ( true parrots) and the Strigopoidea (large New Zealand parrots), they make up the or ...
(cockatoos), and the Strigopoidea (New Zealand parrots).[ Parrots have a generally ]pantropical
A pantropical ("all tropics") distribution is one which covers tropical regions of both hemispheres. Examples of species include caecilians, modern sirenians and the plant genera ''Acacia'' and ''Bacopa''.
''Neotropical'' is a zoogeographic term ...
distribution with several species inhabiting temperate
In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout ...
regions in the Southern Hemisphere as well. The greatest biodiversity, diversity of parrots is in South America and Australasia.[
The Cacatuoidea are quite distinct, having a movable head crest, a different arrangement of the carotid arteries, a gall bladder, differences in the skull bones,][ and lack the Dyck texture feathers that—in the Psittacoidea—scatter light to produce the vibrant colours of so many parrots.][ Lories and lorikeets, Lorikeets were previously regarded as a family, Loriidae,][
No consensus existed regarding the taxonomy of Psittaciformes until recently. The placement of the Strigopoidea species has been variable in the past.][ They were once considered part of the Psittacoidea, but recent 21st-century studies place this group of New Zealand species as their own superfamily next to the Cacatuoidea and remaining members of the Psittacoidea.][ Most authors now recognize this group as a separate taxon][ containing two families: Nestoridae and Strigopidae.][ Conversely, the relationships among various cockatoo genera are largely resolved.][
]
Conventions
Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) IUCN Red List, Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the bird's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN red list for that species unless otherwise noted. All extinct species listed went extinct after 1500 CE (List of recently extinct birds#Psittaciformes, recently extinct[), and are indicated by a Dagger (typography), dagger symbol "†".
]
Classification
The order Psittaciformes consists of 387 extant species belonging to 87 genera. The following classification is based on the most recent proposals as of 2012.Cacatuoidea
A cockatoo is any of the 21 parrot species belonging to the family Cacatuidae, the only family in the superfamily Cacatuoidea. Along with the Psittacoidea ( true parrots) and the Strigopoidea (large New Zealand parrots), they make up the or ...
: cockatoos
True parrots
Family Psittacidae
Subfamily Psittacinae
Subfamily Arinae (neotropical parrots)
Tribe Arini
Tribe Forpini
Tribe Amoropsittacini
Tribe Androglossini
Family Psittaculidae
Subfamily Platycercinae
Tribe Platycercini (broad-tailed parrots)
Tribe Pezoporini
Charles Lucien Bonaparte, Bonaparte, 1837
Subfamily Psittacellinae
Subfamily Loriinae
Tribe Loriini
Prideaux John Selby, Selby, 1836
Tribe Melopsittacini
Tribe Cyclopsittini (fig parrots)
Subfamily Agapornithinae
Subfamily Psittaculinae
Tribe Polytelini
Tribe Psittaculini
Tribe Micropsittini
Family Psittrichasiidae
Subfamily Coracopsinae
Subfamily Psittrichasinae
Cockatoos
Family Cacatuidae
Subfamily Nymphicinae
Subfamily Calyptorhynchinae
Subfamily Cacatuinae
Tribe Microglossini
Tribe Cacatuini
New Zealand parrots
Family Nestoridae
Family Strigopidae
See also
*List of true parrots
*List of macaws
*List of amazon parrots
*List of Nestoridae
*List of Aratinga parakeets, List of ''Aratinga'' parakeets
Notes
References
External links
eBird
– Enter the name of a parrot species to find detailed information about their current range as well as sightings across the world
IOC World Bird List
– A comprehensive list of parrots with up-to-date information on taxonomy, including synonym (taxonomy), synonyms and Author citation (zoology), authority
Integrated Taxonomic Information System
– A list providing taxonomic information on all subordinate taxa of Psittaciformes, including subspecies
{{featured list
Lists of birds, Parrots
Parrots, *