Platycercini
Tribe of broad-tailed parrots native to Australasia.
Platycercini is a tribe of broad-tailed parrots comprising approximately 35–40 species. These small to medium-sized birds are native to Australasia, particularly Australia, as well as New Zealand, New Caledonia, and nearby islands. The tribe includes several genera such as Prosopeia, Eunymphicus, Cyanoramphus, Platycercus, Barnardius, Purpureicephalus, Lathamus, Northiella, Psephotus, and Psephotellus.
- field
- Ornithology
- native_region
- Australasia (Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, nearby islands)
- number_of_species
- 35–40
- notable_genera
- Platycercus, Cyanoramphus, Prosopeia, Eunymphicus
Lore & Background
The tribe Platycercini includes a diverse array of parrots, from the crimson shining parrot (Prosopeia splendens) to the extinct paradise parrot (Psephotellus pulcherrimus). Several species within the genus Cyanoramphus are marked as extinct, such as the black-fronted parakeet, Society parakeet, Lord Howe parakeet, and Macquarie parakeet. The budgerigar was traditionally placed in this tribe, but that inclusion is now considered incorrect; its closest relatives are the lories and lorikeets.
Reader's Guide
The tribe Platycercini represents a significant group of Australasian parrots, encompassing many familiar species such as rosellas and parakeets. Their classification has been subject to revision; for instance, the genera Neopsephotus, Neophema, and Pezoporus are now placed in a separate but closely related tribe, Pezoporini, based on a 2011 paper by Joseph et al. The tribe's species vary widely in conservation status, with several extinct taxa noted in the genus Cyanoramphus and the paradise parrot (Psephotellus pulcherrimus) listed as extinct since the late 1920s. Understanding Platycercini helps clarify the evolutionary relationships among Australasian parrots and highlights the region's unique avian biodiversity.
Did You Know?
- The tribe Platycercini contains about 35–40 species of broad-tailed parrots.
- All members of Platycercini are native to Australasia, including Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia.
- The budgerigar was traditionally placed in this tribe, but that inclusion is now considered incorrect.
- Several species in the genus Cyanoramphus are extinct, including the black-fronted parakeet and the Society parakeet.
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