Is a Parrot a Parakeet? Is a Parakeet a Parrot?

So what are parakeets exactly?

All parakeets are parrots, though not all parrots are parakeets. Parakeets are small parrots consisting of

many different unrelated species found across the globe from Australia to Asia, the subtropics of Africa to Central and South America. Like their larger relatives, they belong to the Order Psittacine (or Psittaciformes) of hook-billed birds. Under this order they are part of a large Family known as Psittaccidae, or “True Parrots” and placed in the subfamily Psittacinae of “typical parrots and allies”. Besides Parakeets, the Psittacinae subfamily family consists of 7 tribes, and includes a variety of familiar parrots like Macaws, African Greys, Amazon parrots, and more.

The name parakeet can be confusing. This is a term used in aviculture, it is not a scientific name nor a representation of their taxonomy. In fact, there is no scientific designation, which recognizes the size of a bird as important enough to make it a “natural” group – scientifically. It is a common designation with a lot of latitude. You will occasionally find a larger parakeet species called a parakeet, while at the same time others will refer to it as a parrot, and both are correct.

What are Parakeets?

Parakeet is a term that refers to a small to medium sized parrot. They range in size from the smaller ones being only about 7″ (18 cm) while the largest reach up to 18″ (45 cm) in length from the top of the head to the tip of the tail. One of the distinguishing characteristics of this group of parrots is the tail. They have long, tapered tail feathers which are about half of their body length.

What are not Parakeets?

Although parakeets are small to medium sized parrots, this designation does not apply to all small parrot species. Because birds in the parakeet group have long, tapered tail feathers, it excludes other small parrots with squared tails like those found on Lovebirds. Along with lovebirds there are a number of other popular types of small to medium sized parrots that are not parakeets. Some of these are Caiques, Lories and Lorikeets, Eclectus, Pionus, and Poicephalus to name a few. Cockatiels are also not parakeets, as they belong to the Cockatoo family Cacatuidae, rather than the true parrot family Psittaccidae.

What are Conures?

All conures are parakeets, but not all parakeets are conures, and several parakeets found in the Americas do not belong to the conure group. Conures are a unique group of parakeets consisting of at least 105 species and subspecies. Some parrots in the conure group are commonly referred to as either a conure, or as a parakeet, and both are correct.

The name conure, derived from Conurus, refers to a group of long-tailed parakeets found only in Central and South America. Conurus is an invalid scientific name formerly given to the Aratinga Genus. The Aratinga genus contains very popular parrots like the Sun Conure and the Jenday Conure. Conorus comes from the Greek words cone (cone) and ourus (tail-bearing). It is not used today.

So there you have it! On I Love Parakeets I generally refer to the type of parakeet called a budgerigar or budgie, which is native to Australia, and is now a much-loved pet throughout the world.

From animal-world.com