Cyanoramphus

Ziegensittich ( Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae )

The running parakeets ( Cyanoramphus ) are a species of bird from the parrot family ( Psittacidae ). They are small, living mainly on the ground parakeets that are well camouflaged by a green plumage color.

Its area of ​​distribution ranged from the South Pacific Islands ( Tahiti, Raiatea ) to the subantarctic Macquarie Island, but the center of its range, the islands of New Zealand. The distribution of the islands has led to the division of time into many endemic species and subspecies. Two species and two subspecies are already extinct and others, living mainly on smaller islands species severely threatened.

System

For a long time, most taxa of the genus the parakeet ( Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae ) were supplied as standard for subspecies. However, molecular genetic studies revealed the following scheme ( † = extinct ):

• Ziegensittich ( Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae ) Kermadec parakeet ( Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cyanurus )
• Chatham Ziegensittich ( Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae chathamensis )