Parrots Fossil range: Early Eocene – Recent
A pair of Senegal Parrots in Africa Poicephalus senegalus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Psittaciformes Wagler, 1830
Systematics
(but see below) Family Cacatuidae (cockatoos) Subfamily Microglossinae (Palm Cockatoo) Subfamily Calyptorhynchinae (dark cockatoos) Subfamily Cacatuinae (white cockatoos) Family Psittacidae (true parrots) Subfamily Loriinae (lories and lorikeets) Subfamily Psittacinae (typical parrots and allies) Tribe Arini (American psittacines) Tribe Cyclopsitticini (fig parrots) Tribe Micropsittini (pygmy parrots) Tribe Nestorini (kakas and Kea) Tribe Platycercini (broad-tailed parrots) Tribe Psittrichadini (Pesquet's Parrot) Tribe Psittacini (African psittacines) Tribe Psittaculini (Asian psittacines) Tribe Strigopini (Kakapo) (paraphyletic)

Scarlet Macaws. The Eocene epoch (558 ± 02 - 339 ± 01 Ma) is a major division of the Geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Palaeogene period in The Senegal Parrot ( Poicephalus senegalus) is a Poicephalus Parrot which is a resident breeder across a wide range of west Africa. Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. Johann Georg Wagler ( March 28, 1800 - August 23, 1832) was a German Herpetologist. For the game see 1830 (board game. Year 1830 ( MDCCCXXX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display Biological systematics is the study of the diversity of Life on the planet Earth both past and present and the relationships among living things through time A cockatoo is any of the 20 Bird Species belonging to the family Cacatuidae. The true parrots are about 330 species of bird belonging to the Psittacidae family, one of the two "traditional" families in the biological order The Psittacinae (Latin psittacinus, from psittacus parrot from Greek psittakosis) a subfamily in the parrot family The Neotropical parrots ( tribe Arini, sometimes Subfamily Arinae) belong to the family of the true parrots Psittacidae. Cyclopsitticini are a tribe of parrots of the Psittacidae family found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, tropical Australia, and the Pygmy parrots are the smallest members of the Parrot family. There are six Species of pygmy parrot all in the genus Micropsitta The Genus Nestor, the only genus of the Nestorini tribe contains two parrot species from New Zealand and one extinct species from Norfolk A broad-tailed parrot is any of about 35–40 Species belonging to the tribe Platycercini, sometimes considered a subfamily ( Platycercinae The Pesquet's Parrot, Psittrichas fulgidus, also known as the Vulturine Parrot (leading to easy confusion with Pyrilia vulturina from Brazil Tribus Psittacini consists of Afrotropical Parrots there are 22 Species in 4 genera. Psittaculini is a tribe of parrots of the Psittacidae family The subdivisions within the tribe are controversial The Kakapo ( Māori: kākāpō, meaning night parrot) Strigops habroptilus (from the Greek strix, genitive In Phylogenetics, a group of organisms is said to be paraphyletic if the group contains its most recent common ancestor but does not contain all One is eating using a foot to hold a walnut, while the shell is broken with its beak.

Parrots are birds of the roughly 350 species in 85 genera comprising the order Psittaciformes, found in most warm and tropical regions. In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic This article is about the taxonomic rank for the sequence of species in a taxonomic list see Taxonomic order In scientific classification used Also known as psittacines (pronounced /ˈsɪtəsaɪnz/),^[1][2] they are usually grouped into two families: the Psittacidae (true parrots) and the Cacatuidae (cockatoos). In Biological classification, family ( Latin The true parrots are about 330 species of bird belonging to the Psittacidae family, one of the two "traditional" families in the biological order A cockatoo is any of the 20 Bird Species belonging to the family Cacatuidae. Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. In Biology, dactyly is the arrangement of digits ( Fingers and Toes on the Hands feet, or sometimes Wings of a Most parrots are predominantly green, with other bright colors, and some species are multi-colored. Cockatoo species range from mostly white to mostly black, and have a mobile crest of feathers on the top of their heads. The crest is a prominent feature exhibited by several Bird and Dinosaur species on their heads Most parrots are monomorphic or minimally sexually dimorphic. Sexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different Sex in the same Species.

Parrots, along with crows, jays and magpies, are some of the most intelligent birds, and their ability to imitate human voices enhances their popularity as pets. Corvidae is a cosmopolitan family of Oscine Passerine Birds that contains the Crows Ravens rooks Talking birds are Birds that can imitate Human speech Talking birds have varying degrees of intelligence and communication capabilities some like the Trapping of wild parrots for the pet trade, as well as other hunting, habitat loss and competition from invasive species, have diminished wild populations, and more parrots are threatened with extinction than any other group of birds. A pet is an Animal kept for companionship and enjoyment or a househeld animal as opposed to Livestock, Laboratory animals Working animals Habitat destruction is the process in which natural Habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species originally present Introduced species|Weed Invasive species is a phrase with several definitions An endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming Extinct because it is either few in numbers or threatened by changing environmental or predation ^[3]

The most important components of most parrots' diets are seeds, nuts, fruit, buds and other plant material, and a few species also eat insects and small animals, and the lories and lorikeets are specialised to feed on nectar from flowers, and soft fruits. Almost all parrots nest in tree holes (or nestboxes in captivity), and lay white eggs from which emerge altricial (helpless) young. A nest box (or nestbox also called birdhouse) is a man-made box provided for animals to Nest in Altricial means "requiring nourishment" and refers to a pattern of growth and development in organisms which are incapable of moving around on their own soon after hatching or

Extant species range in size from the Buff-faced Pygmy-parrot, under 10 g (0. Extant is a term commonly used to refer to Taxa (such as Species, genera or families) that are still in existence (living UserPolbot. -->The Buff-faced Pygmy-parrot ( Micropsitta pusio) is a species of Parrot in the Psittacidae 35 oz. ) and 8 cm (3. 2 inches), to the Hyacinth Macaw, at 1 meter (3. Native to central and eastern South America, the Hyacinth Macaw ( Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) or Hyacinthine Macaw, is the largest Macaw 3 feet) in length, and the Kakapo, at 4 kg (8. The Kakapo ( Māori: kākāpō, meaning night parrot) Strigops habroptilus (from the Greek strix, genitive 8 lbs). They are the most variably sized bird order in terms of length. Some atypical parrots include the dimorphic Eclectus (the male is green and the female is red), the flightless lek breeding Kakapo. The Eclectus Parrot, Eclectus roratus, is a Parrot native to the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, northeastern Australia and the A lek is a gathering of Males of certain animal species for the purposes of competitive Mating display The Kakapo ( Māori: kākāpō, meaning night parrot) Strigops habroptilus (from the Greek strix, genitive The Kaka, Kea and the Long-billed Corella have especially curved upper mandibles. The Kākā, Nestor meridionalis, is a Parrot endemic to the forests of New Zealand. The Kea ( Nestor notabilis) is a species of Parrot (family Psittacidae) found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand The Long-billed Corella, Cacatua tenuirostris, is a Cockatoo native to Australia.

Evolution and systematics

Origins and evolution

The diversity of Psittaciformes in South America and Australasia suggests that the order has a Gondwanan origin. Gondwana (ɡɒnˈdwɑːnə originally Gondwanaland) was a southern Supercontinent that existed about 500 to 200 Ma ago The parrot family's fossil record, however, is sparse and their origin remains a matter of informed speculation rather than fact.

A single 15 mm fragment from a lower bill (UCMP 143274), found in Lance Creek Formation deposits of Niobrara County, Wyoming, has been suggested as the first parrot fossil. The University of California Museum of Paleontology ( UCMP) is a Paleontology museum located on the campus of the University of California Berkeley, The Lance (Creek Formation is a division of Late Cretaceous rocks in the western United States Niobrara County is a County located in the US state of Wyoming. ^[4] Of Late Cretaceous age, it is about 70 million years old. Late Cretaceous (100mya - 65mya refers to the second half of the Cretaceous Period, named after the famous white Chalk cliffs of southern England But subsequent reviews ^{[5] [6]} have established that this fossil is almost certainly not from a bird, but from a caenagnathid theropod — a non-avian dinosaur with a birdlike beak. Caenagnathidae ("recent jaws" as derived from Greek kainos and gnathos) is a family of bird-like Maniraptoran Theropod Dinosaurs Theropods (ˈθɪərəpɒd theropoda /θiːˈrɒpədə/ 'beast feet' are a group of Bipedal Saurischian Dinosaurs Although they were primarily Anatomy Stegosaurus --> Beaks can vary significantly in size and shape from species to species

It is now generally assumed that the Psittaciformes or their common ancestors with a number of related bird orders were present somewhere in the world around the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event, some 65 mya (million years ago). The Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event, which occurred approximately ( Ma) was a large-scale mass extinction of animal and plant species in a geologically In Astronomy, Geology, and Paleontology, mya or " mya " is an abbreviation for "million years ago". If so, they probably had not evolved their morphological autapomorphies yet, but were generalized arboreal birds, roughly similar (though not necessarily closely related) to today's potoos or frogmouths (see also Palaeopsittacus below). eVolution is the third Album by eLDee, it was due to be released in 2008 The term morphology in Biology refers to the outward appearance ( Shape, Structure, Colour, Pattern) of an Organism An autapomorphy in Cladistics is a derived trait that is unique to a given terminal group The potoos are a family, Nyctibiidae of Near passerine Birds related to the Nightjars and Frogmouths They are sometimes The frogmouths are a group of Nocturnal Birds related to the Nightjars They are found from India across southern Asia to

Europe is the origin of the first generally accepted parrot fossils. The first is a wingbone of Mopsitta tanta, uncovered in Denmark and dated to 55 mya (million years ago). In Astronomy, Geology, and Paleontology, mya or " mya " is an abbreviation for "million years ago". ^[7] The climate at this time was tropical, consistent with the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. The Paleocene /Eocene boundary, was marked by the most rapid and significant climatic disturbance of the Cenozoic Era.

Later fossils date from the Eocene, starting around 50 mya. The Eocene epoch (558 ± 02 - 339 ± 01 Ma) is a major division of the Geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Palaeogene period in Several fairly complete skeletons of parrot-like birds have been found in England and Germany. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. ^[8] Some uncertainty remains, but on the whole it seems more likely that these are not direct ancestors of the modern parrots, but related lineages which evolved in the Northern Hemisphere but have since died out. These are probably not "missing links" between ancestral and modern parrots, but rather psittaciform lineages that evolved parallel to true parrots and cockatoos and had their own peculiar autapomorphies:

• Psittacopes (Early/Middle Eocene of Geiseltal, Germany) — basal?
• Serudaptus - pseudasturid or psittacid?
• Pseudasturidae (Halcyornithidae may be correct name)
  • Pseudasturides - formerly Pseudastur
• Quercypsittidae
  • Quercypsitta (Late Eocene)

The earliest records of modern parrots date to about 23–20 mya and are also from Europe. Quercypsitta is a Genus of prehistoric bird from the Late Eocene (c Quercypsitta is a Genus of prehistoric bird from the Late Eocene (c Subsequently, the fossil record — again, mainly from Europe — consists of bones clearly recognizable as belonging to parrots of modern type. The Southern Hemisphere does not have nearly as rich a fossil record for the period of interest as the Northern, and contains no known parrot-like remains earlier than the early to middle Miocene, around 20 mya. The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene period and extends from about 23 At this point, however, is found the first unambiguous parrot fossil (as opposed to a parrot-like one), an upper jaw which is indistinguishable from that of modern cockatoos. A cockatoo is any of the 20 Bird Species belonging to the family Cacatuidae. A few modern genera are tentatively dated to a Miocene origin, but their unequivocal record stretches back only some 5 million years (see genus articles for more).

The named fossil genera of parrots are probably all in the Psittacidae or close to its ancestry:

• Archaeopsittacus (Late Oligocene/Early Miocene)
• Xenopsitta (Early Miocene of Czechia)
• Psittacidae gen. Archaeopsittacus is a Genus of prehistoric Parrot. It is known from deposits of either Late Oligocene or Early Miocene age (c et spp. indet. (Bathans Early/Middle Miocene of Otago, New Zealand) - several species
• Bavaripsitta (Middle Miocene of Steinberg, Germany)
• Psittacidae gen. et sp. indet. (Middle Miocene of France) - erroneously placed in Pararallus dispar, includes "Psittacus" lartetianus

Some Paleogene fossils are not unequivocally accepted to be of psittaciforms:

• Palaeopsittacus (Early - Middle Eocene of NW Europe) - caprimulgiform (podargid?) or quercypsittid?
• "Precursor" (Early Eocene) - part of this apparent chimera seems to be of a pseudasturid or psittacid
• Pulchrapollia (Early Eocene) — includes "Primobucco" olsoni - psittaciform (pseudasturid or psittacid)?

Phylogeny

The feathers of a Yellow-headed Parrot. The Paleogene (alternatively Palaeogene) is a geologic period and system that began 65 "Precursor" is a controversial prehistoric Bird Genus from the Early Eocene. The Yellow-headed Amazon ( Amazona oratrix) also known as the Yellow-headed Parrot Double Yellow-headed Amazon, etc The blue component of the green coloration is due to light scattering while the yellow is due to pigment.

The phylogeny of the parrots is still under investigation. The classifications as presented reflects the current status, which is disputed and therefore subject to change when new studies resolve some of the open questions. For that reason, this classification should be treated as preliminary.

The Psittaciformes are generally considered to consist of two major living lineages of family rank: the true parrots (Psittacidae) and the cockatoos (Cacatuidae). In Biological classification, family ( Latin The true parrots are about 330 species of bird belonging to the Psittacidae family, one of the two "traditional" families in the biological order A cockatoo is any of the 20 Bird Species belonging to the family Cacatuidae.

The Cacatuidae 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 which, in the Psittacidae, scatters light in such a way as to produce the vibrant colours of so many parrots. In Human anatomy, the common carotid artery is an Artery that supplies the head and neck with Oxygenated blood; it divides in the neck to form the The gallbladder (or cholecyst sometimes gall bladder is a small organ whose function in the body is to store Bile and aid in the digestive process Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering or Plumage, on Birds They are considered the most complex integumentary structures However, the actual situation may be more complex (see below).

While understanding of the relationships between subgroups of true parrots — for example, the one containing the Grey Parrot versus the relatives of the Budgerigar — are rather well resolved and knowledge of relationships between species has much improved in the last years, it is still a matter of dispute whether the distinct lineages of true parrots should be considered subfamilies or tribes. The African Grey Parrot ( Psittacus erithacus) is a medium-sized Parrot of the Genus Psittacus, endemic to primary and secondary Rainforest The budgerigar ( Melopsittacus undulatus) commonly called parakeet, shell parakeet, budgie, or common pet parakeet in US English In Biological classification, family ( Latin In Biology, a tribe &mdashor infrafamily&mdashis a Taxonomic rank between family and Genus. Because parrot fossils and molecular divergence date estimates provide insufficient data to properly resolve when exactly the major diversification and divergence periods in parrot evolution took place, it is difficult to determine how distinct from one another the various lineages really are, and how fast and radically they were changed by evolution. eVolution is the third Album by eLDee, it was due to be released in 2008

Lorikeets were previously regarded as a third family, Loriidae,^[9] though now most often considered a subfamily of the Psittacidae. ^[10] The present majority view is that they are distinct enough to warrant subfamily status, but some consider the quite pronounced differences not evidence of a uniquely deep evolutionary split but rather not different quantitatively from the differences between more closely related lineages. Biogeography suggests that the lorikeets are best considered a uniquely distinct lineage, not as divergent as cockatoos maybe, but still standing apart from other psittacids. Biogeography is the study of the distribution of Biodiversity over Space and Time.

Recent molecular studies, such as that of mtDNA in 1998,^[11] or the sex chromosome spindlin gene in 2005,^[12] find the relationships of the main lineages of living parrots to be for the most part unresolvable with any confidence. Mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA) is the DNA located in Organelles called mitochondria. The ZW sex-determination system is a system that determines the sex of offspring in Birds, some Fish, and some Insects (including Butterflies An unexpected^[13] result was that according to the spindlin sequence data, the only major divergence among living parrots that could be reliably positioned in the calculated phylogenies occurred between some New Zealand parrots - Kakapo, Kākā and Kea - and the remaining psittaciformes. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Kakapo ( Māori: kākāpō, meaning night parrot) Strigops habroptilus (from the Greek strix, genitive The Kākā, Nestor meridionalis, is a Parrot endemic to the forests of New Zealand. The Kea ( Nestor notabilis) is a species of Parrot (family Psittacidae) found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand

The case for distinctness of at least the nestorines seems to be fairly complete by now. Its position - with or without the Kakapo - and its ancient age as suggested by the molecular data are at odds with the fossil record though, as it would require an absurdly high degree of homoplasy and a decidedly non-parsimonious character distribution in living parrots. Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages Parsimony is a 'less is better' concept of frugality economy stinginess or caution in arriving at a hypothesis or course of action As the study relies upon an obsolete molecular clock model uncalibrated by material evidence, the results are highly spurious. The molecular clock (based on the molecular clock hypothesis ( MCH) is a technique in Molecular evolution to relate the divergence time of two Species The scenario of Miyaki et al. (1998),^[11] while less complete (and excluding the kakapo) agrees better, though not completely, with the material evidence. Again, an unreliable molecular clock model was used.

While the latter two seem indeed to constitute a distinct lineage, placement of the Kakapo with these is contradicted by mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data. Cytochrome b/b6 is main subunit of transmembrane cytochrome bc1 and b6f complexes ^[11] In any case, the major lineages of psittacines seem indeed to represent distinct clades, but their relationship among them is not well resolvable by the present molecular data. A clade is a taxonomic group comprising a single Common ancestor and all the descendants of that ancestor They appear to have radiated throughout a fairly limited timespan, approximately during the Eocene. An evolutionary radiation is an increase in taxonomic diversity or morphological disparity due to adaptive change or the opening of ecospace One finding of major importance is that neither cockatoos nor lories seem to be as distinct from other major parrot lineages as they are usually assumed to be.

Systematics

The following classification is a version in which several subfamilies are recognized. Molecular data (see above) suggests that several subfamilies might indeed be valid and perhaps even be elevated to family rank, but the arrangement of tribes in these is not well resolved at present.

Rainbow Lorikeet(Juvenile) (Trichoglossus haematodus

Skeleton of a parrot

Family Psittacidae: true parrots

• Subfamily Arinae: Neotropical parrots, about 160 species in some 30 genera. The Rainbow Lorikeet, Trichoglossus haematodus is a species of Australasian Parrot found in Australia, eastern Indonesia, Papua The true parrots are about 330 species of bird belonging to the Psittacidae family, one of the two "traditional" families in the biological order The Neotropical parrots ( tribe Arini, sometimes Subfamily Arinae) belong to the family of the true parrots Psittacidae. Probably 2 distinct lineages:^[11][12]
• Subfamily Loriinae: Around a dozen genera with some 50 species of lorikeets and lories, centered in New Guinea, spreading to Australia, Indonesia, and the islands of the south Pacific.
• Subfamily Micropsittinae: 6 species of pygmy parrot, all in a single genus. Pygmy parrots are the smallest members of the Parrot family. There are six Species of pygmy parrot all in the genus Micropsitta
• Subfamily Nestorinae or Strigopinae: The New Zealand parrots. The Genus Nestor, the only genus of the Nestorini tribe contains two parrot species from New Zealand and one extinct species from Norfolk The Kakapo ( Māori: kākāpō, meaning night parrot) Strigops habroptilus (from the Greek strix, genitive New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island
  • Tribe Nestorini: 1 genus with only 2 living species, the Kea and Kākā of the New Zealand region. The Genus Nestor, the only genus of the Nestorini tribe contains two parrot species from New Zealand and one extinct species from Norfolk The Kea ( Nestor notabilis) is a species of Parrot (family Psittacidae) found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand The Kākā, Nestor meridionalis, is a Parrot endemic to the forests of New Zealand.
  • Tribe Strigopini: The flightless, nearly extinct Kakapo of New Zealand. The Kakapo ( Māori: kākāpō, meaning night parrot) Strigops habroptilus (from the Greek strix, genitive The Kakapo ( Māori: kākāpō, meaning night parrot) Strigops habroptilus (from the Greek strix, genitive
• Subfamily Psittacinae
  • Tribe Cyclopsitticini: fig parrots, 3 genera, all from New Guinea or nearby. The Psittacinae (Latin psittacinus, from psittacus parrot from Greek psittakosis) a subfamily in the parrot family Cyclopsitticini are a tribe of parrots of the Psittacidae family found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, tropical Australia, and the
  • Tribe Polytelini: three genera from Australia and the Wallacea. Wallacea is a biogeographical designation for a group of Indonesian islands separated by deep water Straits from the Asian and Australian - may belong to broad-tailed parrots.
  • Tribe Psittrichadini: A single species, Pesquet's Parrot. The Pesquet's Parrot, Psittrichas fulgidus, also known as the Vulturine Parrot (leading to easy confusion with Pyrilia vulturina from Brazil The Pesquet's Parrot, Psittrichas fulgidus, also known as the Vulturine Parrot (leading to easy confusion with Pyrilia vulturina from Brazil
  • Tribe Psittacini: Afrotropical parrots, about a dozen species in 3 genera. Tribus Psittacini consists of Afrotropical Parrots there are 22 Species in 4 genera.
  • Tribe Psittaculini: Paleotropic psittaculine parrots, nearly 70 living species in 12 genera, distributed from India to Australasia. Psittaculini is a tribe of parrots of the Psittacidae family The subdivisions within the tribe are controversial
• Subfamily Platycercinae: Broad-tailed parrots; nearly 30 species in roughly one dozen genera. A broad-tailed parrot is any of about 35–40 Species belonging to the tribe Platycercini, sometimes considered a subfamily ( Platycercinae
  • Tribe Melopsittacini: one genus with one species, the Budgerigar. The budgerigar ( Melopsittacus undulatus) commonly called parakeet, shell parakeet, budgie, or common pet parakeet in US English The budgerigar ( Melopsittacus undulatus) commonly called parakeet, shell parakeet, budgie, or common pet parakeet in US English
  • Tribe Neophemini: two small genera of parrots. The tribe Neophemini contains two genera Neophema and Neopsephotus and belongs to the subfamily Platycercinae, or Broad-tailed
  • Tribe Pezoporini: one genus of parrots with two quite distinct species. The genus Pezoporus contains two Australian species the Night Parrot ( Pezoporus occidentalis) and the Ground Parrot ( Pezoporus
  • Tribe Platycercini: Rosellas and relatives; around 20 species in 8 genera. A broad-tailed parrot is any of about 35–40 Species belonging to the tribe Platycercini, sometimes considered a subfamily ( Platycercinae A rosella is one of 5-8 Species of colorful Australian Parrots in the genus Platycercus.

Other lists

• A list of all parrots sortable by common or binomial name, about 350 species. See also List of parrots (family This is a species list of Parrots sortable alphabetically by common or binomial name In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank.
  • Taxonomic list of Cacatuidae species, about 20 species in 6 genera
  • Taxonomic list of true parrots which provides the sequence of Psittacidae genera and species following a traditional two-subfamily approach, as in the taxobox above, about 330 species. A cockatoo is any of the 20 Bird Species belonging to the family Cacatuidae. A genus (plural genera from Γένος Latin genus "descent family type gender" is a low-level Taxonomic This is a species list of Parrots ref name = zoonomen> sorted taxonomically for ease of reference

Range and distribution

Most parrot species are tropical but a few species, like this Austral Parakeet, range deeply into temperate zones. Also known as Austral Conure Emerald Parakeet The Austral Parakeet, Enicognathus ferrugineus, is a Parrot found on the southern tip of South America

Parrots are found on all tropical and subtropical continents including Australia and the islands of the Pacific Ocean, India, southeast Asia, southern regions of North America, South America and Africa. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Some Caribbean and Pacific islands are home to endemic species. Endemism is the Ecological state of being unique to a place Endemic species are not naturally found elsewhere By far the greatest number of parrot species come from Australasia and South America. Australasia is a Region of Oceania: New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and neighbouring Islands in the Pacific

Several parrot species enter the cool, temperate regions of South America and New Zealand. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island One species, the Carolina Parakeet existed in temperate North America, but was hunted to extinction in the early 20th century. The Carolina Parakeet ( Conuropsis carolinensis)was the only Parrot species native to the eastern United States. Numerous species have been introduced in areas with temperate climates, and have established stable populations. An introduced species (also known as naturalized species or exotic species) is an Organism that is not indigenous to a given location but The Monk Parakeet currently breeds in at least 15 U. The Monk Parakeet or Quaker Parrot ( Myiopsitta monachus) is a Species of Parrot, in most treatments the only member of the S. states.

While a few parrot species are wholly sedentary or fully migratory, the majority fall somewhere between the two, making poorly understood regional movements, some species adopting an entirely nomadic lifestyle. Sedentary lifestyle is a medical Neologism used to denote a type of Lifestyle most commonly found in modern (particularly Western) cultures Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys undertaken by many species of Birds Bird movements include those made in response to changes in food availability

Morphology

Glossy Black Cockatoo showing the parrot's strong bill, clawed feet, and sideways positioned eyes

Parrots are sometimes referred to as "hookbills," which alludes to their most notable physical characteristic: their strong, curved, broad bill. The Glossy Black Cockatoo ( Calyptorhynchus lathami) also known as the Casuarina Black Cockatoo after one of their preferred food items is the smallest member Anatomy Stegosaurus --> Beaks can vary significantly in size and shape from species to species The upper mandible is prominent, curves downward, and comes to a point. It is not fused to the skull, which allows it to move independently, and contributes to the tremendous biting pressure these birds are able to exert. The lower mandible is shorter, with a sharp, upward facing cutting edge, which moves against the flat portion of the upper mandible in an anvil-like fashion. Seed eating parrots have a strong tongue which helps to manipulate seeds or position nuts in the bill so that the mandibles can apply an appropriate cracking force. The tongue is the large bundle of Skeletal muscles on the floor of the Mouth that manipulates Food for chewing and swallowing (deglutition The head is large, with eyes positioned sideways, which limits binocular vision, but greatly enhances peripheral vision. They have an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed feet, with two toes facing forward and two toes facing rearward on each foot, (zygodactyl). In Biology, dactyly is the arrangement of digits ( Fingers and Toes on the Hands feet, or sometimes Wings of a

Cockatoo species have a mobile crest of feathers on the top of their heads which can be raised for display, and retracted. The crest is a prominent feature exhibited by several Bird and Dinosaur species on their heads

Behaviour

Parrots have a strong, direct flight. Most species spend most of their time perched or climbing in tree canopies. They often use their bills for climbing by gripping or hooking on branches and other supports. On the ground parrots often walk with a rolling gait.

Diet

This Musk Lorikeet is feeding on nectar. The Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna is a lorikeet, one of the three species of the Glossopsitta genus

The diet of parrots consists of seeds, fruit, nectar and pollen and to a lesser degree animal prey. Food is any substance usually composed primarily of Carbohydrates Fats water and/or Proteins that can be eaten or drunk by an A seed (in some plants referred to as a kernel) is a small embryonic Plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat usually with some stored The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. Nectar is a Sugar -rich liquid produced by plants It is produced either by the Flowers in which it attracts pollinating animals or by extrafloral Pollen is a fine to coarse powder consisting of microgametophytes ( pollen grains) which produce the male Gametes (sperm cells of Without question the most important of these to most true parrots and cockatoos are seeds. The evolution of the large and powerful bill can be explained primarily as an adaptation to opening and consuming seeds. eVolution is the third Album by eLDee, it was due to be released in 2008 Anatomy Stegosaurus --> Beaks can vary significantly in size and shape from species to species All true parrots except the Pesquet's Parrot employ the same method to obtain the seed from the husk; the seed is held between the mandibles and the lower mandible crushes the husk, whereupon the seed is rotated in the bill and the remaining husk is removed. The true parrots are about 330 species of bird belonging to the Psittacidae family, one of the two "traditional" families in the biological order The Pesquet's Parrot, Psittrichas fulgidus, also known as the Vulturine Parrot (leading to easy confusion with Pyrilia vulturina from Brazil ^[14] A foot is sometimes used in order to help holding large seeds in place. Parrots are seed predators rather than seed dispersers; and in many cases where species are recorded as consuming fruit they are only eating the fruit in order to get at the seed. Biological dispersal refers to those processes by which a Species maintains ecosystem As seeds often have poisons to protect them, parrots are careful to remove seed coats and other fruit parts which are chemically well defended, prior to ingestion. In the context of Biology, poisons are substances that can cause damage, Illness, or Death to Organisms usually by Many species in the New World, Africa, and Papua New Guinea consume clay which both releases minerals and absorbs toxic compounds from the parrots' gut. Clay is a naturally occurring material composed primarily of fine-grained Minerals which show plasticity through a variable range of Water content, and ^[15]

Macaws and parrots at a clay lick in Ecuador. Macaws are small to large often colourful New World Parrots Of the many different Psittacidae (true parrots genera, six are classified as For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Ecuador topics. Consuming clay neutralises toxins in the diet.

The Lories and lorikeets, Swift Parrot and Philippine Hanging Parrot are primarily nectar and pollen consumers, and have tongues with brush tips to collect this source of food, as well as some specialized gut adaptations to accommodate this diet. The Swift Parrot ( Lathamus discolor) breeds in Tasmania and migrates north to south eastern Australia from Griffith - Warialda in UserPolbot. --> Colasisis are Parrot species of the Psittacidae family The tongue is the large bundle of Skeletal muscles on the floor of the Mouth that manipulates Food for chewing and swallowing (deglutition ^[16] Many other species also consume nectar as well when it becomes available.

In addition to feeding on seeds and flowers, some parrot species will prey on animals. Golden-winged Parakeets prey on water snails, and famously the Keas of New Zealand will scavenge on sheep carcases and even kill juvenile petrels. UserPolbot. -->The Golden-winged Parakeet ( Brotogeris chrysoptera) is a species of Bird in the The word snail is a Common name that can be used for almost all members of the Molluscan class Gastropoda which have coiled shells in the The Kea ( Nestor notabilis) is a species of Parrot (family Psittacidae) found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The family Procellariidae is a group of Seabirds that comprises the Fulmarine petrels the Gadfly petrels the prions, and the Shearwaters Another New Zealand parrot, the Antipodes Island Parakeet, enters the burrows of nesting Grey-backed Storm-petrels and kills the incubating adults. The Antipodes Island Parakeet ( Cyanoramphus unicolor) is endemic to the Antipodes Islands, one of two parrot species found on the islands UserPolbot. -->The Grey-backed Storm-petrel ( Garrodia nereis) is a species of Seabird in the Hydrobatidae ^[17] Some cockatoos and the Kākā will also excavate branches and wood in order to obtain grubs. A cockatoo is any of the 20 Bird Species belonging to the family Cacatuidae. The Kākā, Nestor meridionalis, is a Parrot endemic to the forests of New Zealand.

Breeding

Two parrot eggs (Amazona aestiva xanthopteryx) six days old, lit from below. The left egg is infertile, the right contains an embryo with a visibly beating heart. Arteries can be seen growing over the yolk.

Although there are a few exceptions, parrots are monogamous breeders which nest in cavities and hold no territories other than their nesting sites. Monogamy is the custom or condition of having only one mate in a Relationship, thus forming a Couple. In Ethology, Sociobiology and Behavioral ecology, the term territory refers to any sociographical area that an Animal of a particular Species ^[14][18] Only the Monk Parakeet and five species of Agapornis lovebird build nests in trees,^[19] and three Australian and New Zealand ground parrots nest on the ground. The Monk Parakeet or Quaker Parrot ( Myiopsitta monachus) is a Species of Parrot, in most treatments the only member of the Lovebird is the commonly used name for the Genus, Agapornis (from the Greek αγάπη agape, for love and όρνις ornis All other parrots and cockatoos nest in cavities, either tree hollows or cavities dug into cliffs, banks, termite nests or the ground.

The eggs of parrots are white. In most species the female undertakes all the incubation, although incubation is shared for a few species. Incubation is the process by which Birds hatch their eggs, and to the development of the Embryo within the egg The female remains in the nest for almost all of the incubation period and is fed by the male.

As typical of K-selected species, the macaws and other larger parrot species have low reproductive rates. In Ecology, r/K selection theory relates to the selection of traits which promote success in particular environments They require several years to reach maturity, produce one or very few young per year, and sometimes do not breed every year at all.

Intelligence

Sun conure parrot demonstrating parrots' puzzle-solving skills.

Studies with captive birds have given us insight into which birds are the most intelligent. While parrots have the distinction of being able to mimic human speech, studies with the African Grey Parrot have shown that some are able to associate words with their meanings and form simple sentences (see Alex and N'kisi). The African Grey Parrot ( Psittacus erithacus) is a medium-sized Parrot of the Genus Psittacus, endemic to primary and secondary Rainforest Alex ( 1976 - September 6, 2007) was an African Grey Parrot and the subject of a thirty-year (1977-2007 experiment by animal psychologist N'kisi is an African Grey Parrot who exhibits apparently advanced English usage skills and other abilities Along with crows, ravens, and jays (family Corvidae), parrots are considered the most intelligent of birds. The true crows are large Passerine Birds that comprise the Genus Corvus in the family Corvidae. Raven is the common name given to the largest species of Passerine Birds in the Genus Corvus. The jays are several Species of medium-sized usually colorful and noisy Passerine Birds in the Crow family Corvidae Corvidae is a cosmopolitan family of Oscine Passerine Birds that contains the Crows Ravens rooks The brain-to body size ratio of psittacines and corvines is actually comparable to that of higher primates. ^[20] One argument against the supposed intelligent capabilities of bird species is that birds have a relatively small cerebral cortex, which is the part of the brain considered to be the main area of intelligence in other animals. However, it seems that birds use a different part of their brain, the medio-rostral neostriatum/hyperstriatum ventrale, as the seat of their intelligence. HVC (formerly called the High Vocal Center) is a nucleus in the brain of the Songbirds (order passeriformes necessary for both the learning and the production of Not surprisingly, research has shown that these species tend to have the largest hyperstriata, and Dr. Harvey J. Karten, a neuroscientist at UCSD who has studied the physiology of birds, discovered that the lower part of avian brains are functionally similar to ours. Not only have parrots demonstrated intelligence through scientific testing of their language using ability, but some species of parrot such as the Kea are also highly skilled at using tools and solving puzzles^[21].

Sound imitation and speech

Main article: Talking birds

See also: Animal language

Many species can imitate human speech or other sounds, and the results of a study by Irene Pepperberg suggested a high learning ability in an African Grey Parrot named Alex. Talking birds are Birds that can imitate Human speech Talking birds have varying degrees of intelligence and communication capabilities some like the Animal language is the modeling of human language in non human animal systems Speech refers to the processes associated with the production and perception of Sounds used in Spoken language. Irene Pepperberg (born April 1, 1949, Brooklyn, New York) is a scientist noted for her studies in Animal cognition, particularly in The African Grey Parrot ( Psittacus erithacus) is a medium-sized Parrot of the Genus Psittacus, endemic to primary and secondary Rainforest Alex ( 1976 - September 6, 2007) was an African Grey Parrot and the subject of a thirty-year (1977-2007 experiment by animal psychologist Alex was 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. A second example is that of N'kisi, another African grey, which has been shown to have a vocabulary of approximately a thousand words and has displayed an ability to invent as well as use words in context and in the correct tense. N'kisi is an African Grey Parrot who exhibits apparently advanced English usage skills and other abilities

Parrots do not have vocal cords, so sound is accomplished by expelling air across the mouth of the bifurcated trachea. Different sounds are produced by changing the depth and shape of trachea. So, talking parrots are really whistling in different variations. Congo African Grey Parrots (CAG) are well known for their ability to "talk", which may be caused by more control, or stronger trachea. But that does not mean that a Cockatiel (Cockatiels are not well known for their talking ability), could have a greater vocabulary than an African Grey Parrot.

This ability has made them prized as pets from ancient time to now. In the Masnavi, a writing by Rumi of Persia, AD 1250, the author talks about an ancient method for training parrots to speak. This article is about the Masnavi-i Ma'navi of Rumi for the masnavi poetic form see Masnavi (poetic form. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia

"Parrots are taught to speak without understanding the words. The method is to place a mirror between the parrot and the trainer. The trainer, hidden by the mirror, utters the words, and the parrot, seeing his own reflection in the mirror, fancies another parrot is speaking, and imitates all that is said by the trainer behind the mirror. "

Relationship with humans

Humans and parrots have a complicated relationship. Economically they can be beneficial to communities as sources of income from the pet trade and are highly marketable tourism draws and symbols. But some species are also economically important pests, particularly some cockatoo species in Australia. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Some parrots have also benefited from human changes to the environment in some instances, and have expanded their ranges where agricultural practices, and many parrots have declined as well.

As tens of millions of individuals have been removed from the wild, parrots have been traded in greater numbers and for far longer than any other group of wild animals ^[22]. A large number of parrot species are threatened by this trade as well as habitat loss, predation by introduced species and other forms of hunting. Habitat destruction is the process in which natural Habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species originally present An introduced species (also known as naturalized species or exotic species) is an Organism that is not indigenous to a given location but Some parrot species are agricultural pests, eating fruits, grains, and other crops, but parrots can also benefit economies through birdwatching based ecotourism. A pest is an organism which has characteristics that are regarded by Humans as injurious or unwanted Birdwatching or birding is the observation and study of Birds with the naked eye or through a visual enhancement device like Binoculars. Ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, is a form of Tourism that appeals to ecologically and socially conscious individuals

Parrots as pets

Pet Cuban Amazons in Cuba

Further information: Companion parrot

Popular as pets due to their sociable and affectionate nature, high intelligence, bright colours and ability to imitate human voices, parrots have historically been kept captive in many cultures. The Cuban Amazon, Amazona leucocephala, also known as Cuban Parrot or the Rose-throated Parrot, is a medium-sized green parrot found in woodlands and dry The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la Companion parrot is a general term used for any Parrot kept as a Pet that interacts abundantly with its human counterpart A pet is an Animal kept for companionship and enjoyment or a househeld animal as opposed to Livestock, Laboratory animals Working animals Talking birds are Birds that can imitate Human speech Talking birds have varying degrees of intelligence and communication capabilities some like the Europeans kept birds matching the description of the Rose-ringed Parakeet (or called the ring-necked parrot. The Rose-ringed Parakeet ( Psittacula krameri) also known as the Ringnecked Parakeet, is a gregarious tropical Parakeet species that is popular as ) Such as in this first century account by Pliny the Elder^[23]. Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author As they have been prized for thousands of years for their beauty and ability to talk, they have also proven hard to care for. For example, author Wolfgang de Grahl discusses in his 1987 book "The Grey Parrot," that some importers allowed parrots to drink only coffee while they were being shipped by boat considering pure water to be detrimental and believing that their actions would increase survival rates during shipping. (These days it is commonly accepted that the caffeine in coffee is toxic to birds. )

Pet parrots may be kept in a cage or aviary; though generally, tame parrots should be allowed out regularly on a stand or gym. An aviary is a large enclosure for confining Birds. Unlike cages ' aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly hence aviaries are also Depending on locality, parrots may be either wild caught or be captive bred, though in most areas without native parrots, pet parrots are captive bred. Parrots can make excellent companion animals, and can form close, affectionate bonds with their owners. However, they are not low maintenance pets; they require feeding, grooming, veterinary care, training, environmental enrichment through the provision of toys, exercise, and social interaction (with other parrots or humans) for good health. Environmental enrichment, also called behavioral enrichment, refers to the practice of providing animals under managed care with environmental stimuli Some large parrot species, including large cockatoos, Amazon, and macaws, have very long lifespans with 80 years being reported and record ages of over one hundred. Small parrots, such as lovebirds, hanging parrots, and budgies have short life spans of up to 15-20 years. Lovebird is the commonly used name for the Genus, Agapornis (from the Greek αγάπη agape, for love and όρνις ornis The hanging parrots are birds in the Parrot genus Loriculus. This is a group of small parrots from tropical southern Asia. Some parrot species can be quite loud, and most larger parrots can be destructive and require a regular supply of new toys, branches, and other items to chew up.

Parrots species that are commonly kept as pets include conures, macaws, Amazons, cockatoos, African Greys, lovebirds, cockatiels, budgerigars, eclectus, Caiques, parakeets, Pionus and Poicephalus. A pet is an Animal kept for companionship and enjoyment or a househeld animal as opposed to Livestock, Laboratory animals Working animals Conures are a diverse loosely-defined group of small to medium-sized Parrots They belong to several genera within a long-tailed group of the New World Macaws are small to large often colourful New World Parrots Of the many different Psittacidae (true parrots genera, six are classified as An Amazon parrot is a large Parrot of the Genus Amazona native to the New World ranging from South America to Mexico A cockatoo is any of the 20 Bird Species belonging to the family Cacatuidae. The African Grey Parrot ( Psittacus erithacus) is a medium-sized Parrot of the Genus Psittacus, endemic to primary and secondary Rainforest Lovebird is the commonly used name for the Genus, Agapornis (from the Greek αγάπη agape, for love and όρνις ornis The Cockatiel ( Nymphicus hollandicus) also known as the Quarrion and the Weiro, is the smallest and genuinely miniature Cockatoo endemic The budgerigar ( Melopsittacus undulatus) commonly called parakeet, shell parakeet, budgie, or common pet parakeet in US English The Eclectus Parrot, Eclectus roratus, is a Parrot native to the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, northeastern Australia and the The Caique are two species of Parrots in the Genus Pionites; the White-bellied Parrot (or White-bellied Caique and the Black-headed A parakeet is a North American term for any one of a large number of unrelated small to medium sized Parrot species that generally have long-tail feathers Pionus is a Genus of medium-sized Parrots native to Central and South America. The Genus Poicephalus comprises nine species of Parrots native to various regions of the Afrotropic ecozone, including Sub-Saharan Species vary in their temperament, noise level, talking ability, cuddliness with people, and care needs, although how a parrot has been raised usually greatly affects its personality.

In 1992 the newspaper USA Today published that there were 11 million pet birds in the United States alone, many of them parrots. USA TODAY is a national American daily Newspaper published by the Gannett Company. The domesticated budgie or common parakeet, a small parrot, is the most popular of all pet bird species.

The popularity, longevity, and intelligence of many of the larger pet parrots has led to some of these parrots being rehomed or relinquished to shelters. As parrot require some special care and equipment (such as a cage, toys, and gym or play area), and some larger parrots can be quite loud, demanding, and long-lived, some parrots may be passed from home to home during the course of their lifespan. A common problem is that large parrot species purchased as cuddly, gentle babies will mature into complex, sometimes difficult adults that can outlive their owners' ability to care for them. Due to these problems, and the fact that homeless parrots are not euthanized like dogs and cats, parrot adoption centers and sanctuaries are becoming more common.

Trade of parrots

10,000 Hyacinth Macaws were taken from the wild for the pet trade in the 1980s. ^[24]

The popularity of parrots as pets has led to a thriving - and often illegal - trade in the birds, and some species are now threatened with extinction. A combination of trapping of wild birds and damage to parrot habitats makes survival difficult or even impossible for some species of parrot.

The trade continues unabated in some countries. A report published in January 2007 presents a clear picture of the wild-caught parrot trade in Mexico, stating: "The majority of parrots captured in Mexico stay in the country for the domestic trade. A small percentage of this capture, 4% to 14%, is smuggled into the USA. "^[25]

The scale of the problem can be seen in the Tony Silva case of 1996, in which a parrot expert and former director at Tenerife's Loro Parque (Europe's largest parrot park) was jailed in the United States for 82 months and fined $100,000 for smuggling Hyacinth Macaws. Tony Silva (born 1962 is an American ornithologist, one-time president of the American Parrot Association and former director at Tenerife 's Loro Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Tenerife (previously known and spelled as "Teneriffe" in English before mass tourism adopted the Spanish spelling a Spanish Island, is the largest Loro Parque ( Spanish for " Parrot park" is a Zoo located on the outskirts of Puerto de la Cruz on Tenerife. Native to central and eastern South America, the Hyacinth Macaw ( Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) or Hyacinthine Macaw, is the largest Macaw ^[26] (Such birds command a very high price. ) The case led to calls for greater protection and control over trade in the birds. Different nations have different methods of handling internal and international trade. Australia has banned the export of its native birds since 1960. The United States protects its only native parrot through its Endangered Species Act, and protects other nations' birds through its Wild Bird Conservation Act. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( et seq or ESA is the most wide-ranging of the dozens of United States environmental laws passed in the 1970s Following years of campaigning by hundreds of NGOs and outbreaks of avian flu, in July 2007, the European Union halted the importation of all wild birds with a permanent ban on their import. Prior to an earlier temporary ban started in late October 2005, the EU was importing approximately two million live birds a year, about 90% of the international market: hundreds of thousands of these were parrots. There are no national laws protecting feral parrot populations in the USA. Mexico has a licensing system for capturing and selling native birds (though the laws are not well enforced).

Parrots and culture

Moche Parrot. 200 A. D. Larco Museum Collection Lima, Peru. The Larco Museum (Museo Larco is located in the Pueblo Libre District in Lima, Peru.

Parrots have featured in human writings, story, art, humor, religion and music for thousands of years. From the Roman poet Ovid's "The Dead Parrot"(Latin), (English) to Monty Python's Dead Parrot Sketch millennia later, parrot have existed in the consciousness of many cultures. Monty Python (sometimes known as The Pythons) is the collective name of the six creators of Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British Television Recent books about parrots in human culture include Parrot Culture. ^[27]

In ancient times and currently parrot feathers have been used in ceremonies, and for decoration. Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering or Plumage, on Birds They are considered the most complex integumentary structures The "idea" of the parrot has been used to represent the human condition in medieval literature such as the bestiary. Medieval literature is a broad subject encompassing essentially all written works available in Europe beyond and during the Middle Ages (encompassing the one thousand A bestiary, or Bestiarum vocabulum is a compendium of beasts Bestiaries were made popular in the Middle Ages in illustrated volumes that described various animals They also have a long history as pets.

Currently parrots feature in many media. There are magazines devoted to parrots as pets, and to the conservation of parrots (PsittaScene). Recent fictional books featuring parrots include Next. Fictional films include Paulie, and documentaries include The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. Paulie is a 1998 film starring Tony Shalhoub, Gena Rowlands, Hallie Kate Eisenberg and Jay Mohr. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is a 2005 Documentary film about a population of Feral parrots - cherry-headed and blue-crowned

Parrots have also been considered sacred. The Moche people of ancient Peru worshipped birds and often depicted parrots in their art. The Moche civilization (alternately the Mochica culture Early Chimu Pre-Chimu Proto-Chimu etc Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. ^[28]

Parrots are used as symbols of nations and nationalism. A parrot is found on the flag of Dominica. The Flag of Dominica was adopted on November 3, 1978, with some small changes being made in 1981, 1988, and 1990 The St. Vincent parrot is the national bird of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a Caribbean nation. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles chain of the Caribbean Sea.

Sayings about parrots color the modern English language. The verb "parroting" can be found in the dictionary, and means "to repeat by rote. " There are also clichés, such as the British saying "sick as a parrot. " Fan of musical artist Jimmy Buffett call themselves "parrot heads. James William "Jimmy" Buffett (born December 25 1946) is a Singer, Songwriter, Author, Businessman, and recently "

It is possible to devote entire careers to parrots. Zoos and aquariums employ keepers to care for and shape the behavior of parrots. Some veterinarians who specialize in avian medicine will treat exclusively for parrots. Biologists study parrot populations in the wild and help to conserve wild populations. Aviculturalists will breed and sell parrots for the pet trade.

Feral populations

Main article: Feral parrots

Feral Red-masked Parakeets in San Francisco. Feral parrot is a term for any Parrot that lives in an ecosystem to which it is not native The Red-masked parakeet, Aratinga erythrogenys, is a medium-sized Parrot from Ecuador and Peru. The population is the subject of the book and film, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill is a 2005 Documentary film about a population of Feral parrots - cherry-headed and blue-crowned

Escaped parrots of several species have become established in the wild outside their natural ranges and in some cases outside the natural range of parrots. Among the earliest instances were pet Red Shining-parrots from Fiji which established a population on the islands of southern Tonga. UserPolbot. -->The Red Shining-parrot ( Prosopeia tabuensis) is a species of Parrot in the Psittacidae Fiji (Matanitu ko Viti फ़िजी officially the Republic of the Fiji Islands (Matanitu Tu-Vaka-i-koya ko Viti फ़िजी द्वीप समूह गणराज्य The Kingdom of Tonga is an Archipelago in the south Pacific Ocean comprising 169 islands 36 of them inhabited stretching over a distance of about 800 kilometres (500 miles These introductions were prehistoric and Red-shining Parrots were recorded in Tonga by Captain Cook in the 1770s. Captain James Cook FRS RN ( – 14 February 1779) was an English Explorer, Navigator and ^[29] Escapees first began breeding in cities in California, Texas and Florida in the 1950s (with unproven earlier claims dating back to the 1920s in Texas and Florida). California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the ^[30] They have proved surprisingly hardy in adapting to conditions in Europe and North America. They sometimes even multiply to the point of becoming a nuisance or pest, and a threat to local ecosystems.

Threats and conservation

A mounted specimen of the Carolina Parakeet which was hunted to extinction. The Carolina Parakeet ( Conuropsis carolinensis)was the only Parrot species native to the eastern United States.

A large number of parrot species are in decline, and several species are now extinct. In Biology and Ecology, extinction is the cessation of existence of a Species or group of taxa. Of the 350 or so living species of parrot 130 species are listed as near threatened or worse by the IUCN. ^[31] There are numerous reasons for the decline of so many species, the principal threats being habitat loss, hunting, and for some species, wild-bird trade. Parrots are persecuted for a number of reasons; in some areas they may (or have been) hunted for food, for feathers, and as agricultural pests. For a time, Argentina offered a bounty on quaker parakeets (an agricultural pest), resulting in hundred of thousands of birds being killed, though apparently this did not greatly affect the overall population [1]. Capture for the pet trade is a threat to many of the rarer or slower to breed species. Habitat loss or degradation, most often for agriculture, is a threat to numerous parrot species. Parrots, being cavity nesters, are vulnerable to the loss of nesting sites and to competition with introduced species for those sites. The loss of old trees is particularly a problem in some areas, particularly in Australia where suitable nesting trees may be many hundreds of years old. Many parrot species occur only on islands and are |vulnerable to introduced species such as rats and cats, as they lack the appropriate anti-predator behaviours needed to deal with mammalian predators. An introduced species (also known as naturalized species or exotic species) is an Organism that is not indigenous to a given location but Rats are various medium sized long-tailed Rodents of the superfamily Muroidea A feral cat (or stray cat, alley cat) is a Cat which has been separated from Domestication through abandonment loss or running away and becomes Island tameness is the tendency of many populations and Species of animals living on isolated Islands to lose their wariness of potential predators, particularly Controlling such predators can help in maintaining or increasing the numbers of endangered species. ^[32] Insular species, which have small populations in restricted habitat, are also vulnerable to physical threats such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions.

Trade, export and import of all wild-caught parrots is regulated and only permitted under special licensed circumstances in countries party to CITES, the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, that came into force in 1975 to regulate the international trade of all endangered wild caught animal and plant species. CITES (the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments drafted In 1975, 24 parrot species were included on Appendix I of CITES, thus prohibiting commercial international trade in these birds. Since that initial listing, continued threats from international trade have lead CITES to add an additional 32 parrot varieties to Appendix I, including nine in the last four years. All the other parrot species are protected on Appendix II of CITES. In addition, individual countries may have laws to regulate trade in certain species.

There are many active conservation groups whose goal is the conservation of wild parrot populations. These groups tend to be supported the most by pet owners who care deeply about parrots. One of the largest includes The World Parrot Trust, an international organization. The group gives assistance to worthwhile projects as well as producing a magazine and raising funds through donations and memberships. They state they have helped conservation work in 22 countries. On a smaller scale local parrot clubs (or hookbill clubs as they're called,) will raise money to donate to a cause of conservation. Zoo and wildlife centers usually provide public education, to change habits that cause damage to wild populations. A popular attraction that many zoos now employ is a feeding station for lories and lorikeets, where visitors feed small parrots with cups of liquid food. This is usually done in association with educational signs and lecture.

References and footnotes

External links

• City Parrots Parrot news, Conservation, Naturalized parrots
• FreeParrots Conservation, welfare, and ecotourim opportunities on behalf of wild parrots
• Parrot Rescue, Adoption & Sanctuary Groups
• 1911 Britannica article
• The Parrot Society UK