 Most subspecies have some yellow on the top of the head as well.Forshaw (1989) recognizes six subspecies of "P. meyeri" which vary in home range, size and in markings, including the extent of yellow markings to the head and wings and the intense of turquoise markings on the belly and rump.German physician and ornithologist Philipp Jakob Cretzschmar described Meyer's parrot in 1827.