Psittacines (/ˈsɪtəsaɪnz/), another name for parrots (Psittaciformes)[1][2] are birds with an upright posture, clawed feet, and a powerfully curved beak.[A] Four families, with approximately 410 species in 101 genera, primarily found in tropical and subtropical climates, comprise them. The four families include the African and New World parrots (Psittacidae), the Old World parrots (Psittaculidae), the Cockatoo families (Cacatuoidea), and the New Zealand parrots (Strigopodiaceae). Compared to other comparable bird groups, parrot species have the highest aggregate extinction risk (IUCN Red List Index), with one-third of all parrot species facing extinction.[3] Although numerous species of parrots may live in temperate zones, parrots are primarily found in tropical regions. Australia and South America are home to the parrot species with the most variety
Parrots are among the smartest birds, along with ravens, crows, jays, and magpies. Some species can mimic human speech, which adds to their appeal as pets. They make up the bird order with the widest range of lengths; many have bright colors, and some have several colors. In the visual spectrum, most parrots show little to no sexual dimorphism.
Ravens, crows, jays, and magpies are some of the sharpest birds, and parrots are no exception. Certain species are more desirable as pets because they can mimic human speech. They are the largest variety of lengths in the bird order; many have vivid colors, and some have many hues. Most parrots exhibit little to no sexual dimorphism in their visual spectrum.
More wild bird species are exploited than any other, with parrots being trapped for the pet trade, poaching, habitat loss, and competition from alien species all contributing to the decline in natural numbers. Half of all parrots, or around 50 million, were kept in captivity as of 2021, and the great majority of them were kept as pets in people’s homes.[6] Many of the less iconic species that share the same ecosystems have also been safeguarded by actions taken to preserve the habitats of some well-known charismatic species.
The only animals that exhibit true tripedalism are parrots, who use their necks and beaks as limbs when climbing vertical surfaces, producing propulsive forces that are as least as great as those produced by primates’ forelimbs. When climbing, they can move in cyclical tripedal gaits.
