Parrot, psittacus , generic name given to large members of the bird species, which differ mainly in size and colour, but which share more or less the same shaped body and beaks, and the number and position of their toes. See Bird. Parrots generally have a large head, a hooked beak and claws, a hard and thick skull, a wide tongue, round nostril openings at the end of their upper beaks, near the feathers at the front of their heads, and, finally, all have four fingers on each foot, two pointing forwards, and two backwards. Most use their feet to bring food to their beaks. Parrots are divided into three classes. The first, the biggest, is the size of a capon; those in the second class are medium-sized, about the same size as a domestic pigeon; in the third class are placed the small parrots . The name budgerigar is given to the members of the second and third classes with long tails. Most parrots easily learn to speak. Francis Willughby, Ornithologia libri tres. See Bird.