Hanging parrot explained

Hanging parrots are birds in the genus Loriculus, a group of small parrots from tropical southern Asia.

About 13cm (05inches) long, hanging parrots are mostly green plumaged and short-tailed. Often head coloring helps to identify individual species.^[1] They are unique among birds for their ability to sleep upside down.^[2]

Taxonomy

The genus Loriculus was introduced in 1849 by the English zoologist Edward Blyth for the blue-crowned hanging parrot.^{[3] [4]} The name is a diminutive of the genus Lorius that was introduced by Nicholas Aylward Vigors for the lorys in 1825.^[5]

Fifteen species are recognised:^[6]

• Vernal hanging parrot, Loriculus vernalis
• Sri Lanka hanging parrot, Loriculus beryllinus
• Philippine hanging parrot, Loriculus philippensis
• Black-billed hanging parrot, Loriculus bonapartei
• Camiguin hanging parrot, Loriculus camiguinensis (first described in 2006)
• Blue-crowned hanging parrot, Loriculus galgulus
• Great hanging parrot, Loriculus stigmatus (also known as the Celebes hanging parrot)
• Moluccan hanging parrot, Loriculus amabilis
• Sula hanging parrot, Loriculus sclateri (split from L. amabilis)
• Sangihe hanging parrot, Loriculus catamene
• Orange-fronted hanging parrot, Loriculus aurantiifrons
• Bismarck hanging parrot, Loriculus tener
• Pygmy hanging parrot, Loriculus exilis (also known as the green hanging parrot)
• Yellow-throated hanging parrot, Loriculus pusillus
• Wallace's hanging parrot, Loriculus flosculus

See also

• Parrotlet
• Pygmy parrot
• Fig parrot

Notes and References

1. Book: Alderton, David. David Alderton

   . David Alderton . The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Caged and Aviary Birds . 1-84309-164-X . 214. Hermes House . London, England . 2003.

2. Buckley. Francine G. 1966. Behaviour of the Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot Loriculus galgulus with comparative notes on the Vernal Hanging Parrot L. vernalis. Ibis. 110. 2. 145–164. 10.1111/j.1474-919X.1968.tb00438.x.
3. Blyth . Edward . Edward Blyth . 1849 . A supplemental note to the Catalogue of the Birds in the Asiatic Society's Museum . Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal . 18, Part 2 . 32 . 800–821 [801] .
4. Book: Peters . James Lee . James L. Peters . 1937 . Check-List of Birds of the World . 3 . Harvard University Press . Cambridge, Massachusetts . 256 .
5. Book: Jobling, James A. . 2010. The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names . Christopher Helm . London . 978-1-4081-2501-4 . 231 .
6. Web site: Gill . Frank . Frank Gill (ornithologist) . Donsker . David . Rasmussen . Pamela . Pamela Rasmussen . January 2022 . Parrots, cockatoos . IOC World Bird List Version 12.1 . International Ornithologists' Union . 21 March 2022 .