Vasa Classification

[Brittany0208]

Throughout my continuing research of Vasa parrots, I frequently ask myself if the Vasa is more parrot or bird of prey. During Java's vet appointment, the vet and the technician referred to him as a bird of prey, which has me confused. The vet opened an old textbook to show me X-rays of parrots, and he came across an image of an Orange-Winged Amazon and said," now, this is an image of an Orange-Winged Amazon leg bone, which is a species of parrot--which isn't the same thing as a Vasa . . ." How? He also said when he first started examining Java, that he frequently sees leg injuries in birds of prey. Not once did he refer to him as a parrot, and must've said bird of prey at least seven times throughout the entire appointment. I understand a Vasa's need for meat, and the fact that they might--though rarely--hunt if need be, but to completely disregard him as a parrot has me wondering just how strong the genetic link may be. Is he more parrot or more bird of prey, or a combination of both? I've even read a while ago that scientists were working on possibly reclassifying the Vasa.

 

[TikiMyn]

I don't know a lot about vasa's, but there is a general link between parrots and falcons
Parrots and Falcons — Long-lost Cousins | BirdNote
Falcons, Parrots, The Tree of Life | BirdNote

I found this that mentions vasa's, but no particular studies:
And I Think to Myself...What A Wonderful World.: Creature Feature: Vasa Parrots.

This is about the relationship between different groups, songbirds and parrots, but also mentions the general tree of life of birds:
Jumping genes reveal deep relationships between parrots and songbirds | theguardian.com

This is also about classification:
TiF Checklist: BASAL AUSTRALAVES: Cariamiformes, Falconiformes & Psittaciformes

 

[MommyBird]

When I talk to kids about predators and prey I like to talk about some visual differences.
One is the placement of eyes on the head.
Prey animals have them more towards the sides of their head so they have a greater field of vision. Think parrots and horses.
Predators have eyes to the front for binocular vision so they can judge depth and location better when grabbing prey. Think cats and hawks/owls.

 

[Tinta]

I've never personally interacted with a bird of prey, but the vasa I handled felt very like all the other parrots I'd handled. Maybe more polite and less interested in being touched.

Though I did hear once of a parrot sanctuary in AZ getting a greater vasa. They put it in an aviary with large macaws and later came back to see all the other parrots were cowered in a corner and regarding the vasa like a bird of prey.
I've seen greater and lesser vasas interact with many different species of parrot though and it generally goes as most parrot interaction goes. I just remember that story pretty vividly.

 

[Serin]

Your vet sounds terribly ignorant on the issue! A vasa is a parrot. A psittacaforme. As much a parrot as a macaw, a ringneck, a cockatoo or a budgie. They are their own group, endemic to Madagascar, where they have been isolated for a while and have evolved some traits not present in other parrots. However, they are still very much true parrots and nothing close to a bird of prey.

While parrots are genetically closely related - and share a recent ancestor with - falcons, to put it into perspective they are only about as closely related as a dolphin is to a sheep. Genetically, they are still closer to all perching birds (finches, robins etc) than to falcons. And you wouldn't call a vasa a bluebird! They are not closely related to other predatory birds (hawks, vultures, eagles or owls) at all, these birds' ancestors diverged from the line that would give rise to parrots tens of millions of years ago.

You have a parrot, not anything else. Its diet is different from some others because it has evolved differently, but it's not the only parrot that eats meat in the wild. Keas, totally unrelated parrots from New Zealand, attack and eat sheep.

 

[Brittany0208]

Thanks everyone for the clarification