Ok to some of you this may sound like a pretty stupid question but can anyone explain to me exactly how different species of parrots are classified? I know TOOs are in one classification and say macaws and pionous in another but what comprises putting a bird into a classification ? Who came up with these classifications? Thanks

I was thinking about this the other day. I've read a few websites where they make references such as "including parrots and cockatoos..." Are cockatoos not parrots? I thought all hookbills were parrots, except for the smaller guys like tiels, budgies, parrotlets...

The small guys are parrots too - they have the hookbills and the word parakeet literally means "small parrot with a long tail." And tiels are cockatoo relatives.

Okay- actually I think deep down I did know thtat, but I'm getting so confused by people referring to cockatoos and parrots like they're separate and not one and the same.

In the link that Susan provided it lists:

Order Psittaciformes: Parrots, Macaws, Parakeets, and Lories

And if you click on Psittaciformes it lists all of the different types.

Actually I switched tabs and I like this view better:

Order Psittaciformes (parrots)

Family Psittacidae (parrots, cockatoos, and relatives)

Subfamily Cacatuinae

Genus Cacatua (cockatoos and corellas)

Genus Callocephalon (gang-gang cockatoo)

Genus Calyptorhynchus (black-cockatoos)

Genus Eolophus (galah)

Genus Nymphicus (cockatiel)

Genus Probosciger (palm cockatoo)

Subfamily Loriculinae

Genus Loriculus (hanging-parrots)

Subfamily Loriinae

Genus Chalcopsitta (lories)

Genus Charmosyna (lorikeets)

Genus Eos (lories)

Genus Glossopsitta (lorikeets)

Genus Lorius (lories)

Genus Neopsittacus (orange-billed lorikeet and yellow-billed lorikeet)

Genus Oreopsittacus (plum-faced lorikeet)

Genus Phigys (collared lory)

Genus Pseudeos (dusky lory)

Genus Psitteuteles (lorikeets)

Genus Trichoglossus (island lorikeets)

Genus Vini (vini lorikeets)

Subfamily Micropsittinae

Genus Micropsitta (Australasian pygmy-parrots)

Subfamily Nestorinae

Genus Nestor (kakas and kea)

Subfamily Psittacinae (parrots, parakeets, macaws, and relatives)

Genus Agapornis (lovebirds)

Genus Alisterus (king-parrots)

Genus Amazona (Amazon parrots)

Genus Anodorhynchus (great blue macaws)

Genus Aprosmictus (red-winged parrots)

Genus Ara (macaws)

Genus Aratinga (neotropical parakeets)

Genus Barnardius (Australian ringnecks)

Genus Bolbopsittacus (guaiabero)

Genus Bolborhynchus (mountain parakeets)

Genus Brotogeris (canary-winged parakeets)

Genus Conuropsis (Carolina parakeets)

Genus Coracopsis (Vasa parrots)

Genus Cyanoliseus (burrowing parakeet)

Genus Cyanopsitta (Spix's macaw)

Genus Cyanoramphus (Australasian parakeets)

Genus Cyclopsitta (fig-parrots)

Genus Deroptyus (red-fan parrot)

Genus Diopsittaca (red-shouldered macaw)

Genus Eclectus (eclectus parrots)

Genus Enicognathus (Patagonian parakeets)

Genus Eunymphicus (horned parakeet)

Genus Forpus (neotropical parrotlets)

Genus Geoffroyus (singing parrots)

Genus Graydidascalus (short-tailed parrot)

Genus Guarouba (golden parakeet)

Genus Hapalopsittaca (neotropical parrots)

Genus Lathamus (swift parrot)

Genus Leptosittaca (golden-plumed parakeet)

Genus Mascarinus (Mascarene parrot)

Genus Melopsittacus (budgerigars)

Genus Myiopsitta (monk parakeet)

Genus Nandayus (Nanday parakeet)

Genus Nannopsittaca (Amazonian parrotlets)

Genus Neophema (grass parrots)

Genus Neopsephotus (Bourke's parrot)

Genus Northiella (bluebonnet)

Genus Ognorhynchus (yellow-eared parrot)

Genus Orthopsittaca (red-bellied macaw)

Genus Pezoporus (ground parrot)

Genus Pionites (caiques)

Genus Pionopsitta (neotropical parrots)

Genus Pionus (pionus parrots)

Genus Platycercus (rosellas)

Genus Poicephalus (African parrots)

Genus Polytelis (superb parrots)

Genus Primolius (Primolius macaws)

Genus Prioniturus (racquet-tails)

Genus Prosopeia (shining-parrots)

Genus Psephotus (grass parrots)

Genus Psilopsiagon (mountain parakeets)

Genus Psittacella (tiger-parrots)

Genus Psittacula (rose-ringed parakeets)

Genus Psittaculirostris (fig-parrots)

Genus Psittacus (grey parrot)

Genus Psittinus (blue-rumped parrot)

Genus Purpureicephalus (red-capped parrot)

Genus Pyrrhura (neotropical parakeets)

Genus Rhynchopsitta (thick-billed parrots)

Genus Tanygnathus (great-billed parrots)

Genus Touit (neotropical parrotlets)

Genus Triclaria (blue-bellied parrot)

Subfamily Psittrichadinae

Genus Psittrichas (Pesquet's parrot)

Subfamily Strigopinae

Genus Strigops (kakapo)

But see, like where I colored pink...if they're all of the same Family, why do they list parrots and cockatoos? Is just parrots not sufficient?

Yeah I did notice that. And under the big Family listing, it has Parrots, Macaws, Parakeets, and Lories separated too - don't know why that is either.

Well, they are all Subfamilies of the Family Psittacidae (parrots, cockatoos, and relatives), which all belong to the Order Psittaciformes: Parrots, Macaws, Parakeets, and Lories.

Taxonomy 101: Order, Family, Subfamily, Genus, Confusion.

I was interested to learn there are so many different genus within the Subfamily Loriinae.

My goodness did I open up a can of worms but thanks for all the info. It does help. There is still a bit of confusion but it is a bit clearer