| Fig parrot | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Edwards's fig parrot | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Psittaciformes |
| Family: | Psittaculidae |
| Subfamily: | Loriinae |
| Tribe: | Cyclopsittini |
| Genera | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Fig parrots are a smalltribe of Australasianparrots namedCyclopsittini in the familyPsittaculidae, made up of seven species in twogenera (Cyclopsitta andPsittaculirostris). Fig parrots are found on and around the island ofNew Guinea, within the territories ofIndonesia,Papua New Guinea, and tropicalAustralia.[2]
Fig parrots are small, stocky, arboreal parrots with short, wedge-shaped tails. They possess proportionately large, broad bills and smooth tongues. Sexual dimorphism is typically pronounced, with the exception ofCoxen's fig parrot (Cyclopsitta diopthalma coxeni). Those in the genusCyclopsitta are generally smaller than those inPsittaculirostris.[2]
Their preferred habitats are the tropical and subtropicalrainforests, though they can also be found foraging in the surrounding biomes. They can usually be seen flying swiftly in straight lines, well above the tree canopy.[2]
Their diets consist mainly of fruit, particularly their namesakefigs. They may supplement these with a variety of other fruits and berries, along with nectar, pollen, insects, and larvae. Fig parrots appear to be capable of detecting the figsyconia that have been implanted with growingfig wasps, and targeting these for their extra nutritional content. They remember particular fruit trees, and return to them repeatedly over months and years.[2]
The fig parrot group was first proposed in 1891 at family rank, as Cyclopsittacidae, from the type genusCyclopsitta.[1] This was later downgraded to tribe status and included into the family Psittaculidae.
Molecular phylogenetic studies support a grouping of fig parrots (Cyclopsittini) with the closely relatedbudgerigars (Melopsittacini) and thelories and lorikeets (Loriini) as the subfamilyLoriinae.[3][4] Relationships between the tribes and within theCyclopsitta andPsittaculirostris remain to be studied in detail.
| Image | Genus | Living Species |
|---|---|---|
 | Cyclopsitta |
|
| PsittaculirostrisL. Reichenbach, 1850 |
|
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