Pygmy parrots are the smallest members of the parrot order. The six species of pygmy parrots are all in the genus Micropsitta, which is the only genus in the Micropsittinitribe.[1]
Pygmy parrots are native to the forests of New Guinea and nearby islands. They are tiny birds, fast-moving, and mostly green with bright highlights. A pygmy parrot spends a good deal of time climbing through foliage, using its large feet and beak, and stiffened tail feathers. At a little over 8cm (3.1in) long, the buff-faced pygmy parrot is the smallest parrot species.
Pygmy parrots are also among the few species in the order (other examples include Pyrilia and Nannopsittaca species) that have never been successfully kept, let alone bred, in captivity. All attempts to do so have resulted in the quick deaths of the little birds. Stress and dietary deficiencies are probably to blame.[2] Pygmy parrots are among the few birds that feed on fungi and lichens, which play a major role in their diet.[3] Their precise dietary needs are poorly understood.[citation needed]
Pygmy parrots are the smallest parrots and range is size from about 8 to 10cm (3.1 to 3.9in). They have long toes and long, curved claws. The shafts of their tail feathers are stiff and form projections at the end of the tail. The cere is prominent. The external appearance of the adult males and adult females differ to varying extents in different species. Juveniles are duller.[4]
The genus was defined by French naturalist René-Primevère Lesson in 1831. The name Micropsitta is derived from the Greekmikros meaning small and psitta for parrot.[5]
The pygmy parrots consist of six species and several subspecies:[6]
Genus: Micropsitta Lesson 1831 (pygmy parrots)
(Salvadori 1875)</small>\n| ''M. b. buruensis'' <small>Arndt 1999</small>\n| ''M. b. necopinata'' <small>[[Ernst Hartert|Hartert]] 1925</small>\n| ''M. b. pileata'' <small>Mayr 1940</small>\n| ''M. b. rosea'' <small>Mayr 1940</small>\n}}"}},"i":1}},"\n\n",{"template":{"target":{"wt":"Species table/row\n","href":"./Template:Species_table/row"},"params":{"name":{"wt":"Finsch's pygmy parrot"},"binomial":{"wt":"[[Micropsitta finschii]]"},"image":{"wt":""},"image-size":{"wt":"180px"},"image-alt":{"wt":""},"authority-name":{"wt":"Ramsay, EP"},"authority-year":{"wt":"1881"},"authority-not-original":{"wt":"yes"},"range":{"wt":"Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Bismarck Archipelago."},"range-image":{"wt":"File:Finsch's Pygmy Parrot.png"},"range-image-size":{"wt":"180px"},"size":{"wt":""},"habitat":{"wt":""},"hunting":{"wt":""},"iucn-status":{"wt":"LC"},"population":{"wt":""},"direction":{"wt":""},"subspecies":{"wt":"{{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Five subspecies |bullets=on\n| ''M. f. aolae'' <small>(Ogilvie-Grant 1888)</small>\n| ''M. f. finschii'' <small>(Ramsay, EP 1881)</small>\n| ''M. f. nanina'' <small>(Tristram 1891)</small>\n| ''M. f. tristrami'' <small>([[Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild|Rothschild]] & [[Ernst Hartert|Hartert]] 1902)</small>\n| ''M. f. viridifrons'' <small>([[Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild|Rothschild]] & [[Ernst Hartert|Hartert]] 1899)</small>\n}}"}},"i":2}},"\n\n",{"template":{"target":{"wt":"Species table/row\n","href":"./Template:Species_table/row"},"params":{"name":{"wt":"Geelvink pygmy parrot"},"binomial":{"wt":"[[Micropsitta geelvinkiana]]"},"image":{"wt":""},"image-size":{"wt":"180px"},"image-alt":{"wt":""},"authority-name":{"wt":"Schlegel"},"authority-year":{"wt":"1871"},"authority-not-original":{"wt":"yes"},"range":{"wt":"Biak and Numfoor islands in Western New Guinea"},"range-image":{"wt":""},"range-image-size":{"wt":"180px"},"size":{"wt":""},"habitat":{"wt":""},"hunting":{"wt":""},"iucn-status":{"wt":"LC"},"population":{"wt":""},"direction":{"wt":""},"subspecies":{"wt":"{{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Two subspecies |bullets=on\n| ''M. g. geelvinkiana'' <small>(Schlegel 1871)</small>\n| ''M. g. misoriensis'' <small>(Salvadori 1876)</small>\n}}"}},"i":3}},"\n\n",{"template":{"target":{"wt":"Species table/row\n","href":"./Template:Species_table/row"},"params":{"name":{"wt":"Yellow-capped pygmy parrot"},"binomial":{"wt":"[[Micropsitta keiensis]]"},"image":{"wt":"File:Micropsitta keiensis 315676556.jpg"},"image-size":{"wt":"180px"},"image-alt":{"wt":""},"authority-name":{"wt":"Salvadori"},"authority-year":{"wt":"1876"},"authority-not-original":{"wt":"yes"},"range":{"wt":"western New Guinea"},"range-image":{"wt":""},"range-image-size":{"wt":"180px"},"size":{"wt":""},"habitat":{"wt":""},"hunting":{"wt":""},"iucn-status":{"wt":"LC"},"population":{"wt":""},"direction":{"wt":""},"subspecies":{"wt":"{{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Three subspecies |bullets=on\n| ''M. k. chloroxantha'' <small>Oberholser 1917</small>\n| ''M. k. keiensis'' <small>(Salvadori 1876)</small>\n| ''M. k. viridipectus'' <small>([[Lionel Walter Rothschild|Rothschild]] 1911)</small>\n}}"}},"i":4}},"\n\n",{"template":{"target":{"wt":"Species table/row\n","href":"./Template:Species_table/row"},"params":{"name":{"wt":"Meek's pygmy parrot"},"binomial":{"wt":"[[Micropsitta meeki]]"},"image":{"wt":""},"image-size":{"wt":"180px"},"image-alt":{"wt":""},"authority-name":{"wt":"[[Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild|Rothschild]] & [[Ernst Hartert|Hartert]]"},"authority-year":{"wt":"1914"},"authority-not-original":{"wt":""},"range":{"wt":"Papua New Guinea."},"range-image":{"wt":""},"range-image-size":{"wt":"180px"},"size":{"wt":""},"habitat":{"wt":""},"hunting":{"wt":""},"iucn-status":{"wt":"LC"},"population":{"wt":""},"direction":{"wt":""},"subspecies":{"wt":"{{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Two subspecies |bullets=on\n| ''M. m. meeki'' <small>[[Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild|Rothschild]] & [[Ernst Hartert|Hartert]] 1914</small>\n| ''M. m. proxima'' <small>[[Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild|Rothschild]] & [[Ernst Hartert|Hartert]] 1924</small>\n}}"}},"i":5}},"\n\n",{"template":{"target":{"wt":"Species table/row\n","href":"./Template:Species_table/row"},"params":{"name":{"wt":"Buff-faced pygmy parrot"},"binomial":{"wt":"[[Micropsitta pusio]]"},"image":{"wt":""},"image-size":{"wt":"180px"},"image-alt":{"wt":""},"authority-name":{"wt":"Sclater, PL"},"authority-year":{"wt":"1866"},"authority-not-original":{"wt":"yes"},"range":{"wt":"New Britain and New Guinea."},"range-image":{"wt":""},"range-image-size":{"wt":"180px"},"size":{"wt":""},"habitat":{"wt":""},"hunting":{"wt":""},"iucn-status":{"wt":"LC"},"population":{"wt":""},"direction":{"wt":""},"subspecies":{"wt":"{{Collapsible list |expand=yes |title=Four subspecies |bullets=on\n| ''M. p. beccarii'' <small>(Salvadori 1876)</small>\n| ''M. p. harterti'' <small>Mayr 1940</small>\n| ''M. p. pusio'' <small>(Sclater, PL 1866)</small>\n| ''M. p. stresemanni'' <small>[[Ernst Hartert|Hartert]] 1926</small>\n}}"}},"i":6}},"\n",{"template":{"target":{"wt":"Species table/end","href":"./Template:Species_table/end"},"params":{},"i":7}}]}'>
