Parakeet
 |
Parakeet is a term for any one of a large number of unrelated small to medium sized species of parrot, that generally have long tail feathers. The majority of parakeets are either blue, yellow, or green, but there are other colors available by breeding, including albino.[1]
An older spelling still sometimes encountered is paroquet.
Species
In the U.S. the terms parakeet and gypsy parrot are commonly used to refer to the budgerigar ("budgie").
The term grass parakeet or grasskeet refers to a large number of small Australian parakeets native to grasslands such as Neophema and Princess Parrot. The Australian rosellas are also parakeets.
The term ringneck parakeet refers to a number of African and Asian parakeet species of the Psittacula genus. The Alexandrine parakeet is one of the largest parrots commonly referred to as a parakeet.
In aviculture the more precise term conure is used for small to medium sized parakeets of the genera Aratinga, Pyrrhura, and a few other genere of the tribe Arini, which are mainly endemic to South America. As they are not all from one genera, taxonomists tend to dislike the term.
Some other South American species commonly called parakeets include the Brotogeris parakeets, monk parakeet and lineolated parakeets (although lineolated parakeets have short tails).
Some species, especially the larger parakeets, may be referred to as "parrot" or "parakeet" interchangeably. For example, Alexandrine parrot and Alexandrine parakeet are different names for the same species.
Many of the smaller, long-tailed species of Lories may be referred to as lorikeets.
Gallery
See also
References
- ^ The Parakeet Handbook by Annette Wolter and Immanuel Birmelin. copyright 1985