Psittrichadini

Lore & Background

The naming history of the tribe's sole species is tangled. Lesson first named it Banksianus fulgidus in 1830, but later used Psittacus pecquetii (1831), Psittacus pesquetii (1831), and Psittrichas pesqueti (1838). Selby used Dasyptilus pequeti in 1836. Salvadori listed twelve synonyms, which Gould copied in 1888 under Dasyptilus pesqueti. One story holds that the parrot was named after a M. Pecquet, who gave the holotype to Lesson, claiming it came from Patagonia; Lesson later corrected the origin to New Guinea. The bird was obtained during a circumnavigation aboard the French vessel L'Astrolabe, on which Lesson's brother Pierre-Adolphe was present. The first name and correct spelling of M. Pecquet remain mysterious. However, Watkins (2004) claims that no M. Pecquet existed; Lesson received the specimen from his brother and named it Dasyptilus pecquetii after the French anatomist Jean Pecquet.

Reader's Guide

Psittrichadini represents a unique evolutionary lineage within Old World parrots, distinguished by its single living member, Pesquet's parrot. Its bare black facial skin and long, hooked bill, adapted for eating fruit, give it a vulture-like profile that is unusual among parrots. The tribe's significance lies in its specialized ecology: it is a highly frugivorous bird feeding almost exclusively on a few fig species, with seasonal nomadism in response to fruit availability. The bare head is likely an adaptation to avoid feather-matting from sticky fruit. Its conservation status as Vulnerable highlights threats from overhunting for its prized feathers and high prices in aviculture, as well as habitat loss. The tangled naming history, involving multiple synonyms and disputed origins, reflects early taxonomic confusion and the challenges of documenting New Guinea's avifauna. As the only member of its genus, Psittrichadini underscores the importance of preserving monotypic lineages that represent distinct evolutionary histories.

Did You Know?

• Pesquet's parrot is the only member of the genus Psittrichas.
• Its bare black facial skin and long hooked bill give it a vulture-like appearance.
• The species feeds almost exclusively on a few species of figs.
• The correct spelling of the person it was named after remains uncertain: Pequet, Peçquet, or Pescquiet.