kids encyclopedia robot

Pyrrhura facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Pyrrhura
Green Cheeked Conure Family.jpeg
Green-cheeked parakeet (Pyrrhura molinae)
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae
Tribe: Arini
Genus: Pyrrhura
Bonaparte, 1856
Type species
Psittacus vittatus
Shaw, 1811
Species

See text.
PyrrhuraKeulemans
Maroon-tailed parakeet (in front), and black-capped parakeet (behind); illustration by Keulemans, 1891

Pyrrhura is a group of colorful parrots. Their name comes from Greek words meaning "red" or "fire tail." These birds live in warm, wet places like tropical and subtropical areas of South America and parts of Central America. You can find them in countries like Panama and Costa Rica.

Most Pyrrhura parrots live in humid forests. Some prefer different areas, like woodlands or dry regions. Sadly, some types of Pyrrhura parrots are in danger of disappearing.

These parrots are usually between 22 and 30 centimeters (about 9 to 12 inches) long. They all have long, pointed tails. Their feathers are mostly green. They also have a thin, dark ring around their eyes. Many have cool patterns on their chests, like scales or stripes. Some have a light-colored patch on their ears.

Pyrrhura parrots often fly around in small, noisy groups. They fly very fast, usually just below the tops of the trees. Once they land in a tree, they can become very quiet. This makes them hard to spot, especially if they sense danger. They build their nests in holes or cracks in trees.

Some Pyrrhura species are popular as pets. People often call them "conures" instead of "parakeets" when they are kept as pets.

What Are Pyrrhura Parrots?

The group of parrots called Pyrrhura was first named in 1856. A French scientist named Charles Lucien Bonaparte gave them this name. The name Pyrrhura combines two old Greek words: purrhos, which means "flame-colored" or "red," and -ouros, which means "tail." This name fits them well because of their colorful tails!

Scientists study how different types of parrots are related. They sometimes change how they group birds together. This helps them understand the parrot family tree better.

Types of Pyrrhura Parrots

There are 24 different kinds of Pyrrhura parrots! Each one is special and has its own unique look and home. Here are some of them:

Images for kids

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Pyrrhura Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.