A Congo African Grey – CAG.

While abbreviating names can be much faster to write or type, sometimes it can get confusing even for people who are used to doing it! That’s why I’ve compiled a glossary of the most common abbreviations of bird names.

Cockatoos are the easiest, although they sound more confusing at first. Quite simply, the ‘too’ of cockatoo is abbreviated into numerical form, 2. Then the first letter refers to the actual species or sub-species. Note that cockatoos are also often referred to as ‘toos. Like this:

U2 – Umbrella Cockatoo, also referred to as white cockatoos

M2 – Moluccan Cockatoo, or salmon-crested cockatoo

G2 – Goffins Cockatoo

C2 – Citron-Crested Cockatoo

S2 – Sulfur-Crested Cockatoo

T2 – Triton’s Cockatoo

Umbrella Cockatoo – U2.

Next, most other species tend to abbreviate by the first letter of the species name. Thus:

CAG – Congo African Grey

TAG – Timneh African Grey

GCC – Green-cheeked conure

PGCC – Pineapple mutation green-cheeked conure.

BCC – Blue-crowned conure

MC – Mitred conure

GWM – Green-winged macaw

B&G – Blue and Gold macaw

MM – Military Macaw

BTM – Blue-Throated Macaw

BFA – Blue-Fronted Amazon

IRN – Indian Ringneck Parakeet

DYA – Double Yellow-Headed Amazon

YA – Yellow-Headed Amazon

Blue-Fronted Amazon Parrot

A brief note about the beloved Budgerigar – often called a budgie. In America, budgies are often called parakeets. While they are indeed parakeets – or ‘keets’ – I think it’s important to mention that parakeet is not restricted to budgies. It means ‘long tail’ and covers a wide range of species. Conures, Quakers, Indian Ringneck Parrots, and Mountain Parakeets all belong to the parakeet family. There are actually quite a lot!

Hopefully that helps in case anyone ever gets confused.

Sarah Stull is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, a photographer, violist, and violinist who has plans of opening her own avian sanctuary on the east coast of America.