Psittacine anatomy book or charts?

Kiwibird · Apr 4, 2018

I am wondering if anyone knows of a book or detailed charts of parrot anatomy specifically or that definitively includes a robust section of parrot anatomy? Mostly I am interested in their musculature and skeletal structures in motion, such as taking off, landing, flight, turning their head around to sleep etc... I am seeing a textbook called "The Inner Bird" that is *possibly* what I might be looking for, but at the price, I'd want to be certain it contains the information I'm seeking. I am also trying to recall if "Parrots of the World" had this information. My parents had a copy I used to look over as a kid but I don't specifically recall any large section on psittacine anatomy being covered. Any other books or textbooks I might be missing?

OutlawedSpirit · Apr 4, 2018

I would be VERY interested in this as well, if anyone knows of anything, or is able to find anything.

Taprock · Apr 4, 2018

This has been the best I’ve found. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0723438323/?coliid=IRD1RDHYT86JM&colid=UUK2JIP81282&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
You may want to interloan it through your local library before purchasing to be sure it really has what you want. I can’t remember how much it went over flight. It did cover parrot health and was super detailed.

For general bird anatomy Cornell university’s All about birds has a great learning app. The anatomy is the same.

Not sure what your looking for on flight. This is basics How Birds Fly: An In-Depth Journey North Lesson I did see a good animation on YouTube but don’t remember the link.

Most of what I have relates to wild birds so I’m not sure if it helps you that much.

Oh and this is on my wish list. https://www.amazon.com/Avian-Anatomy-Textbook-Colour-Second/dp/1910455601/ref=pd_sim_14_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1910455601&pd_rd_r=BHWDQQM2N5SVN3MC6RQ1&pd_rd_w=SXWeY&pd_rd_wg=Or8cN&psc=1&refRID=BHWDQQM2N5SVN3MC6RQ1

Kiwibird · Apr 5, 2018

Thanks Taprock!

I probably should have included what I was looking to do with it- draw and paint parrots in motion more accurately. Currently, I still draw parrots in the same silly cartoonish way I have since I was like 5. I have been dusting off my long neglected art skills and what better way to get back into practice than drawing and painting my all time favorite subject matter-parrots!

Library was a good idea, but I just checked the local library database and they only have one book on parrots on beginner care plus a couple on birdwatching. Not really what I'm looking for lol.

My other idea was to enlist hubby help to do some stop action photos of Kiwi, however that's a pretty iffy venture there. He's not exactly a very "still" creature, doesn't really do any motions on command and can't actually fly, just flap his wings while firmly affixed to a human hand.

Anansi · Apr 5, 2018

I once saw a book at my bird's veterinarian that would be exactly what you were looking for! It even had those transparent overlay sheets that pulled away the layers from skin to musculature to organs to nervous system to skeletal structure. I'd asked him about it and it was apparently a veterinary resource book. He'd promised to give me the bin number, but then we got deep into the health exam and I completely forgot about it.

When I take them in for their spring check-up I'll ask about it. Then, if you haven't found what you're looking for by that time, I'll give you the info as well.

Anansi · Apr 5, 2018

I hear you about dusting off the art skills. I haven't touched my pencils in years. Feels like a part of myself is missing. I do have to start again sometime soon.

Kiwibird · Apr 5, 2018

Anansi said:
I once saw a book at my bird's veterinarian that would be exactly what you were looking for! It even had those transparent overlay sheets that pulled away the layers from skin to musculature to organs to nervous system to skeletal structure. I'd asked him about it and it was apparently a veterinary resource book. He'd promised to give me the bin number, but then we got deep into the health exam and I completely forgot about it.

When I take them in for their spring check-up I'll ask about it. Then, if you haven't found what you're looking for by that time, I'll give you the info as well.

Sounds most interesting and not like something that would necessarily show up in a basic internet search!

Anansi said:
I hear you about dusting off the art skills. I haven't touched my pencils in years. Feels like a part of myself is missing. I do have to start again sometime soon.

I have never stopped drawing completely, I'm always doodling, but have put no serious effort into creating art in many years. I'm starting a website which is why I'm getting my art skills back up to par again since I'm designing it from the ground up. Don't know if you saw this thread, but I'm moving away from my old preferred medium of watercolor markers and making the leap into digital! All new territory for me.

http://www.parrotforums.com/off-topic/74378-any-our-resident-artists-using-graphics-tablet-2.html

Anansi · Apr 5, 2018

No, I hadn't seen it. But I'll definitely be swinging by to check it out. Thanks for the link!

SailBoat · Apr 5, 2018

My go to medical book has been: The Complete Pet Bird Owner’s Handbook (New Edition), Gary A. Gallerstein D.V.M

For medical care, it has remained my favorite. Although, I do not believe that it will provide you the detail you are looking for your application.

I strongly recommended that you target the DVD Series: Lord of the Rings and especially the last two of the extended journey series (released after the original three) as they provide extensive and yes, excellent video of Eagles in (animated) flight, rolls, take-offs, landings with detailed combination of wings and tail feather positions. The placement and interplay of feathers, bone, muscles is excellent!!! The overall body, head and claw interplay is as they had taken video of Eagles and blue screen the back ground and inserted the movie segments.

The experts on the Lord of the Rings (the movies) will be able to provide you precise segments!

There are very few exceptions in the differences between Eagles and Amazons in flight.

Kiwibird · Apr 5, 2018

SailBoat said:
My go to medical book has been: The Complete Pet Bird Owner’s Handbook (New Edition), Gary A. Gallerstein D.V.M

For medical care, it has remained my favorite. Although, I do not believe that it will provide you the detail you are looking for your application.

I strongly recommended that you target the DVD Series: Lord of the Rings and especially the last two of the extended journey series (released after the original three) as they provide extensive and yes, excellent video of Eagles in (animated) flight, rolls, take-offs, landings with detailed combination of wings and tail feather positions. The placement and interplay of feathers, bone, muscles is excellent!!! The overall body, head and claw interplay is as they had taken video of Eagles and blue screen the back ground and inserted the movie segments.

The experts on the Lord of the Rings (the movies) will be able to provide you precise segments!

There are very few exceptions in the differences between Eagles and Amazons in flight.

Thanks so much! This is excellent information to know as there are several books I've come across that appear to have information about BOPs but not parrots. I have always kind of thought parrots and BOPs (especially little hawks) looked similar in build, but was unsure how different they really are anatomically. But if I'm understanding correctly, beyond obvious differences in eye placement and beak/feet, their anatomy is fairly similar?

SailBoat · Apr 5, 2018

Kiwibird said:
SailBoat said:

My go to medical book has been: The Complete Pet Bird Owner’s Handbook (New Edition), Gary A. Gallerstein D.V.M

For medical care, it has remained my favorite. Although, I do not believe that it will provide you the detail you are looking for your application.

I strongly recommended that you target the DVD Series: Lord of the Rings and especially the last two of the extended journey series (released after the original three) as they provide extensive and yes, excellent video of Eagles in (animated) flight, rolls, take-offs, landings with detailed combination of wings and tail feather positions. The placement and interplay of feathers, bone, muscles is excellent!!! The overall body, head and claw interplay is as they had taken video of Eagles and blue screen the back ground and inserted the movie segments.

The experts on the Lord of the Rings (the movies) will be able to provide you precise segments!

There are very few exceptions in the differences between Eagles and Amazons in flight.

Click to expand...

Thanks so much! This is excellent information to know as there are several books I've come across that appear to have information about BOPs but not parrots. I have always kind of thought parrots and BOPs (especially little hawks) looked similar in build, but was unsure how different they really are anatomically. But if I'm understanding correctly, beyond obvious differences in eye placement and beak/feet, their anatomy is fairly similar?

Right down to the number of Wing feathers, (variations in length and size, based on body size). The tail feathers of BOP's, as a group, 'tend' to be squared-off more, which provide a greater volume to the air bubble under them, which provides great lift during take-off (improves lifting capacity, which makes sense) and also improves hovering.

Kiwibird · Apr 5, 2018

SailBoat said:
Right down to the number of Wing feathers, (variations in length and size, based on body size). The tail feathers of BOP's, as a group, 'tend' to be squared-off more, which provide a greater volume to the air bubble under them, which provides great lift during take-off (improves lifting capacity, which makes sense) and also improves hovering.

Fascinating that they're so similar ad very helpful. I wonder if they have a closer common ancestor than say, a parrot and a sparrow or a parrot and a goose (well, that depends of course which parrot you're talking about

).

I think then, I will probably toss around the idea for a while before ultimately being unable to convince myself not to get this book

https://www.amazon.com/Bird-Anatomy-for-Artists/dp/0987337300

Knowing parrots have similar anatomy in flight and motion to other birds, I'm not as iffy about whether or not this book will contain relevant information.

Taprock · Apr 5, 2018

Not to harp on the library - I'm a librarian. Call your library and ask if they do ILL's (Interlibrary loans). Each state is different but I get tons of books and journal articles y that only universities have and are way to expensive for me to invest in all of them. I've been able to narrow down my huge list of wants to the ones that really do contain the information that I want.

SailBoat · Apr 5, 2018

Kiwibird said:
SailBoat said:

Right down to the number of Wing feathers, (variations in length and size, based on body size). The tail feathers of BOP's, as a group, 'tend' to be squared-off more, which provide a greater volume to the air bubble under them, which provides great lift during take-off (improves lifting capacity, which makes sense) and also improves hovering.

Click to expand...

Fascinating that they're so similar ad very helpful. I wonder if they have a closer common ancestor than say, a parrot and a sparrow or a parrot and a goose (well, that depends of course which parrot you're talking about).

I think then, I will probably toss around the idea for a while before ultimately being unable to convince myself not to get this book
https://www.amazon.com/Bird-Anatomy-for-Artists/dp/0987337300

Knowing parrots have similar anatomy in flight and motion to other birds, I'm not as iffy about whether or not this book will contain relevant information.

Take care with the migrating birds as compared to BOP /Parrots and say Geese! As you know, a take-off of a Swan and an Eagle is two very different events as are their flight styles, etc...

GaleriaGila · Apr 5, 2018

I am scared to make too much use of anatomy texts because I worry that it would distract me from the individual bird's unique appearance. Of course, I only do portraits, as opposed to species illustrations or wildlife paintings, so I prefer to use photos and videos (and direct observation if possible) of the specific bird (or other animal I'm portraying). Maybe this is a matter of apples and oranges?

Psittacine anatomy book or charts?

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