Matomo-Image-Tracker Psittaciformes - The Parrot Index

Psittaciformes


Psittaciformes - The biological classification of parrots


There are roughly 393 living species, and 576 subspecies of parrots covering 92 genera.

The order is subdivided into six families. They are, Cacatuidea (Cockatoos), Psittacidae (True Parrots), Psittaculidae (Old World and Afro-Tropical Parrots), Nestoridae, Strigopidae (Unique parrots from New Zealand), and Psittrichasiidae (Parrots from Madagascar and the Indian Ocean).

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong, curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Many parrots are vividly colored, and some are multi-colored. Most parrots exhibit little or no sexual dimorphism in the visual spectrum. They form the most variably sized bird order in terms of length. The most important components of most parrots' diets are seeds, nuts, fruit, buds, and other plant material. A few species sometimes eat animals and carrion, while the lories and lorikeets are specialized for feeding on floral nectar and soft fruits. Almost all parrots nest in tree hollows (or nest boxes in captivity), and lay white eggs from which hatch altricial (helpless) young.

This list is by no means definitive, or complete. As bird research progresses, species are reevaluated, moved between one genus or another, or placed into a new one. This website is divided into families, then the genus, and finally the species. For those birds that are the single species within a genus, they are displayed at the genus level.

A list by common name is available under the
Common Name section from the menu in the top right corner.

Psittcaciformes is provided by Phoenix Feathers as a reference of parrot species. This is not a list of the species that are currently being bred by Phoenix Feathers.


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Psittaciformes, The Parrot Index, a part of Phoenix Feathers © 2016 - 2024
Page last updated: 12/24/23

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