Bird sizes??

I have always been confused as to size in parrots. I always hear that conures are medium if they are 12 inches, but a mini-macaw is the same size but considered a large parrot? Parrot sizes would be much easier to depict if the tail length on the larger birds was negated. That would make classifying macaws and large cockatoos as "very large" birds more clear, as they would average at around 20 in. without the large tail of the macaw. If you can, please estimate the parrot sizes with no tail length included, as a budgerigar would be around 4.5 in. and so forth.(Measurements in inches please, and please try and be specific not using "large, medium small" etc.) This would give me a greater understanding of parrot size. Also, if you can, please try and post the rough estimates of size of common species. (not by exact measurement, by large, medium small etc.)

my point is why is a meyer's parrot considered medium at 9 inches, when a budgie is the same size and considered small?

Another question regarding parrot sizes, are cockatiels, parrotlets, budgies, and lovebirds, regent parakeet, the only parrots that do not use their feet for manipulation of items and for eating? If so, why? If not, why, and which parrots?



Thank you everybody for answering my questions, i just want a better understanding of the parrot world!

There isn't a universally-agreed sizing category of S/M/L, they're subjective and inaccurate. I regard Macaws as large, Greys as medium, and Conures as small. I'd consider anything smaller to also be small, but petite is quite common.

It's based more on weight and body build than actual length. A cockatiel is the same length as a hahns macaw, with the hahns possibly weighing a little more.


Here's a great example! Here's a person holding a Congo African Grey (right shoulder), a Hahns Macaw (left shoulder), Sun Conure (chest) and two Blue & Gold Macaws (hands).
Blue & Gold Macaw,Sun Conure, Hahns Macaw.African grey | Flickr - Photo Sharing!


A hahns is considered a macaw because they have facial skin, just like many of the Ara macaws and other small macaw species. (blue macaws are in different categories). Although Hahns are small parrots, they are considered a member of the "Mini Macaw" group, not part of the "Large Macaw" group.

There have been hybrids between conures and small macaws as well.


Cockatiels are also mini-cockatoos, although they seem to have the longest tail as compared to body.


Couldn't find a quick photo of a meyers and a budgie together, but I did find a couple of a senegal (same genus as meyers - poicephalus) and a budgie....
World's Greatest Bird Celebrates 5th Birthday! | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Chet Womach with his birds | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (not the best for size comparison)


Another 'good example' is cockatiels and sun conures. They are typically around the same length and may even weigh around the same amount (with sun conures, on average, usually weighing a little more). However, when looking at them side by side, it is clear that sun conures are larger! They have a bigger body build, bigger feet, bigger head and definitely a bigger beak!
Conure West & Helios & Birdhead | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
who do you recognize? (2 of 2) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Life's Lesson #5: It's Good to Share | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
GET OFF OF MY HOUSE! | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
IMG_8646 cr + reszd | Flickr - Photo Sharing!


Another question regarding parrot sizes, are cockatiels, parrotlets, budgies, and lovebirds, regent parakeet, the only parrots that do not use their feet for manipulation of items and for eating? If so, why? If not, why, and which parrots?
Those species can, and do, use their feet for food manipulation, however it is not very common and is not typical of the species to do so. Many of the smaller species forage on the ground and eat small seeds so it's unlikely that they would have a need to hold something up to their mouth. Larger species often forage in the tree tops and may need to pluck a fruit or nut out of place from the branch so that they can eat it from the branch. This often requires having to hold it in one foot so that they can more easily eat it. Some larger species also forage on the ground, but they, too, are looking for large pieces of food to eat that have fallen from above.

Wow, thanks tons! Really helped me understand parrot sizes much better.

Welcome!

MonicaMc you are on FIRE today! Beating me to every single post with a wealth of information and then some to back it up!

Thanks

Well ingot a new thresd in the question and answer topic maybe you could beat her to...

LOL! Well, that's very possible!

Still no replies....huryy im off to the bird store soon