Systemics

The following classification is a version in which several subfamilies are recognized. Molecular data suggests that several subfamilies might indeed be valid and perhaps even be elevated to family rank, but the arrangement of tribes in these is not well resolved at present.


Rainbow Lorikeet(Juvenile) (Trichoglossus haematodus
Skeleton of a parrotFamily Psittacidae: true parrots

Subfamily Arinae: Neotropical parrots, about 160 species in some 30 genera. Probably 2 distinct lineages:[11][12]
Subfamily Loriinae: Around a dozen genera with some 50 species of lorikeets and lories, centered in New Guinea, spreading to Australia, Indonesia, and the islands of the south Pacific.
Subfamily Micropsittinae: 6 species of pygmy parrot, all in a single genus.
Subfamily Nestorinae or Strigopinae: The New Zealand parrots.
Tribe Nestorini: 1 genus with only 2 living species, the Kea and Kākā of the New Zealand region.
Tribe Strigopini: The flightless, nearly extinct Kakapo of New Zealand.
Subfamily Psittacinae
Tribe Cyclopsitticini: fig parrots, 3 genera, all from New Guinea or nearby.
Tribe Polytelini: three genera from Australia and the Wallacea. - may belong to broad-tailed parrots.
Tribe Psittrichadini: A single species, Pesquet's Parrot.
Tribe Psittacini: Afrotropical parrots, about a dozen species in 3 genera.
Tribe Psittaculini: Paleotropic psittaculine parrots, nearly 70 living species in 12 genera, distributed from India to Australasia.
Subfamily Platycercinae: Broad-tailed parrots; nearly 30 species in roughly one dozen genera.
Tribe Melopsittacini: one genus with one species, the Budgerigar.
Tribe Neophemini: two small genera of parrots.
Tribe Pezoporini: one genus of parrots with two quite distinct species.
Tribe Platycercini: Rosellas and relatives; around 20 species in 8 genera.