Parrots are birds belonging to the order of psitaciforms, composed of species scattered throughout the world, especially in tropical and subtropical areas of South America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, where diversity is greatest. They represent a group whose characteristics separate them very well from the rest of birds, such as their robust, powerful and curved beaks that allow them to feed on a wide variety of fruits and seeds, as well as their prensiles and zygodactic legs. On the other hand, they have plumes with a wide variety of patterns, in addition to having a wide variety of sizes. They are among the smartest animals and are able to reproduce the human voice, another feature that turns them into unique birds.
Continue reading this Animal Expert article and we’ll talk about the types of parrots, their characteristics, and their names.
- These birds form an order with more than 370 species that inhabit the tropical and subtropical regions of the planet and are divided into three superfamilies (Strigopidea.
- Psittacoidea and Cacoidatuea) that differ in characteristics such as size.
- Plumage color and geographical distribution.
- They have a wide variety of special features like the following:.
The order of psitaciforms is divided into three superfamilies that, in turn, have their own classification. Thus, the main types of parrots are those classified in the following superfamilies:
Currently, there are only four species belonging to this superfamily: kakapo (Strigops habroptitus), kea (Nestor notabilis), kako from the southern island (Nestor meridionalis meridionalis) and kako from the northern island (Nestor meridionalis spetentrionalis).
The superfamily Strigopidea is divided into two families, which include the types of parrots mentioned:
As we said, this family is made up of cockatoos, so it includes only the Cacatuidae Family, which includes three subfamilies:
Species such as the white cockatoo (Cacatua alba), the cockatoo (Nymphicus hollandicus) or the black red-tailed cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii) are found.
This is the largest of all, as it includes more than 360 species of parrots. It is divided into three families, each with its different subfamilies and genders:
In this family we find typical parrots, so there are species such as the Bourke parake (Neopsephotus bourkii), the inseparable cariblanco (Agapornis canus) or the red-throated loriquet (Charmosyna amabilis).
Parrot types can also be categorized by size, as we will see in the following sections.
There are many types of small parrots, so below we show a selection of the most representative or popular species.
This species belongs to the superfamily of Psittacoidea (family of Psittaculidae and subfamily of Psittaculinae). 8 to 11 cm in length, it is the smallest species of parrot that exists. It is a very under-studied species, but is native to New Guinea, inhabits areas of humid forests and forms small groups of about six individuals.
Also known as blue-winged parakeet, this species is found within the superfamily Psittacoidea (family of Psittacidae and subfamily of Arinae), about 13 cm long, is native to South America and inhabits natural spaces open to urban parks. It has a sexual dimorphism (unusual trait in the order of psitaciforms), where the male has blue flying feathers and the female is completely green. It is very common to observe them in pairs.
Known as the undulating parakeet, it belongs to the superfamily psittacoidea (family of Psittaculidae, subfamily of Loriinae), is a species native to Australia and also endemic, although it is introduced in many other countries. It is about 18 cm long and inhabits arid or semi-arid areas to areas of forests or shrubs. In this species, there is a sexual dimorphism and the female can be differentiated from the male by the wax of the beak (meat that have some birds at the base of the beak), because the females are brown, while the male is blue.
The parakeet is one of the most popular types of domestic parrots for its size, character and beauty. However, it should be noted that all birds living in captivity should enjoy the flight hours, so it is not advisable to confine them in cages 24 hours a day.
Among the more than 370 types of parrots, there are also medium-sized species. Some of the best known are:
Medium-sized parrot species, about 30 cm long. It belongs to the superfamily of psittacoidea (family of Psittacidae and subfamily of Arinae). It is found in South America, from Bolivia to Argentina, however, it has been introduced to other countries in the Americas and other continents, which has led it to become a pest because it has a very short reproductive cycle and lays several eggs. In addition, it is a very gregarious species that has communal nests shared by several pairs.
This bird is endemic to the Philippines and inhabits low mangrove areas. It is found in the superfamily of Cacatuoidea (family of Cacatuidae and subfamily of Cacatuinae). It reaches about 35 cm in length and its white plumage is unmistakable by the pink area under the tail feathers and yellow or pink feathers on the head. This species is endangered due to poaching.
Learn about Brazil’s most endangered animals in this other article
Species included in the superfamily psittacoidea (family of Psittaculidae, subfamily of Loriinae). The yellow-necked loryan is a species native to the Solomon Islands that occupies humid forests and highlands. It is between 28 and 30 cm long and has a colorful plumage that is distinguished by its red, green and yellow color, and by its characteristic black cap on the head. It is a very under-studied species, but its biology is assumed to be similar to that of the rest of Psitaciforms.
We close the types of parrots classified by size with the largest of all. The most popular species are:
It belongs to the superfamily psittacoidea (family of Psittacidae, subfamily of Arinae), is native to Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, and is a species of large parrot that inhabits forests and jungles. It can measure up to one meter long, being the largest species of ara. It is a very striking species not only for its size and tail with very long feathers, but also for its blue color with yellow details around the eyes and beak. Is it classified as “vulnerable”? by habitat loss and illegal trade, as well as being a species with a very long life cycle, as it reaches the reproductive age of 7 years.
Both for its beauty and for its intelligence, the ara is another of the most popular types of domestic parrots. However, we must remember that it is a vulnerable species, so it must live in freedom.
Species of the superfamily Psittacoidea (family Psittacidae, subfamily Arinae), reaches more than 90 cm in length, including its tail, which has long feathers, being one of the largest parrots that exist. It inhabits the tropical forests, forests, mountains and plains of Mexico in Brazil. It is very common to see herds of more than 30 individuals that are distinguished by their red plumage with wings with blue and yellow details.
It is a slightly smaller ara than the others, also included in the superfamily Psittacoidea (family of Psittacidae, subfamily of Arinae), and reaching about 70 cm in length. It is a species that extends from Mexico to Argentina and occupies forests in good condition, so it is used as a bioindicator of the health and quality of the environments it occupies, since it tends to disappear from degraded habitats. Is it classified as “vulnerable”? due to habitat loss. Its plumage is green on the body, with a red detail on the forehead.
In the world of birds, there are many orders with species that have the ability to imitate the human voice and to learn, memorize and repeat elaborate words and phrases. Within this group, there are many species of parrots that have a strong intelligence and are able to interact with people, because with this they can even learn phrases and even associate them with a meaning. We’ll look at some of the types of parrots discussed below.
Species of the superfamily Psittacoidea (family of Psittacidae, subfamily of Psittacinae), native to Africa that lives in humid forests and savannahs. It is about 30 to 40 cm long and is very striking for its grey and red plumage on the tail feathers. It is a species very sensitive to its surroundings and is, par excellence, the species of talking parrot. He has an immense ability to learn words and memorize them, and has intelligence comparable to that of a young child.
Precisely because of its intelligence and learning capacity, the Congo Parrot is another of the most popular types of domestic parrots in the world. Again, we emphasize the importance of leaving these animals free so they can fly and exercise. Similarly, we encourage you to think about bird ownership before taking adoption due to all the features we mentioned above.
Native to South America, this species of parrot belongs to the superfamily of Psittacoidea (family of Psittacidae, subfamily of Arinae), inhabits areas of forests and groves, including suburban areas and plantation areas from Bolivia to Argentina. It is a very long-lived species, with records of individuals up to the age of 90. It has a size of about 35 cm and a characteristic plumage on the forehead with blue feathers. Very popular for its ability to reproduce the human voice and can learn a lot of long words and sentences.
A species distributed in the Solomon Islands, the islands of Indonesia, New Guinea and Australia, where it occupies lush forests and jungles and mountainous areas. It is part of the psittacoidea superfamily (family Psittaculidae, subfamily of psittaculinae). It measures between 30 and 40 cm and has a very marked sexual dimorphism, since the male and female differ in that the latter has a red body with blue details and a black bill, while the male is green and its bill is yellow. When they discovered this species, it led them to think that they were two different species. This species, like the previous ones, is also able to reproduce the human voice, although it needs more time to learn.
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