Psittaciformes

Cacatuidae

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Psittacidae

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The order Psittaciformes includes about 342 species of bird which are generally grouped into two families: the Cacatuidae or cockatoos, and the Psittacidae, the parrots. The term parrot can be used to indicate either the Psittacidae alone or the entire order. All members of the order have a characteristic curved beak shape and zygodactyl feet (two toes face forward and two back).

Related Topics:
Order - Species - Bird - Families - Cacatuidae - Psittacidae - Zygodactyl

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Some authorities regard the lorikeets as a third family rather than part of the Psittacidae, or lump the cockatoos into one giant family. The majority view, however, is that the Cacatuidae are quite distinct, having a movable headcrest, different arrangement of the carotid arteries, a gall bladder, different skull bones, and not having the Dyck texture feather composition which, in the Psittacidae, scatters light in such a way as to produce the vibrant colours of so many parrots.

Related Topics:
Lorikeet - Dyck texture

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Birds of the parrot families can be found in most of the warmer 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 Psittaciforme species, however, come from Australasia, South America and Central America.

Related Topics:
Carolina Parakeet - Australasia - South America - Central America

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