Psittaculini

Lore & Background

The tribe Psittaculini is a grouping of parrots whose internal subdivisions are a matter of dispute among taxonomists. The tribe contains eight recognized genera, including Psittinus, which holds the blue-rumped parrot and the Simeulue parrot, and Geoffroyus, which includes the red-cheeked parrot and the Rennell parrot. The genus Prioniturus comprises numerous racket-tail species, such as the montane racket-tail and the blue-winged racket-tail, also known as the Sulu Racquet-tail.

Reader's Guide

Psittaculini represents a diverse assemblage of parrots, ranging from the great-billed parrot of Tanygnathus to the eclectus parrots of the genus Eclectus, which includes the Moluccan eclectus and the extinct Oceanic eclectus. The genus Psittacula contains many parakeet species, such as the Alexandrine parakeet and the rose-ringed parakeet, as well as several extinct forms like the Seychelles parakeet and Newton's parakeet. The tribe also includes the extinct genera Lophopsittacus, which contains the Mauritius grey parrot (disputed) and the broad-billed parrot, and Necropsittacus, with the Rodrigues parrot. The controversial nature of the tribe's subdivisions highlights ongoing debates in parrot systematics, and the inclusion of extinct species underscores the historical diversity and vulnerability of these birds.

Did You Know?

• The subdivisions within the tribe Psittaculini are controversial.
• The genus Lophopsittacus includes the Mauritius grey parrot, whose classification is disputed.
• The genus Eclectus contains the extinct Oceanic eclectus.
• The blue-winged racket-tail is also known as the Sulu Racquet-tail.