What the HD and Asterisk Labels Mean on Cult of the Party Parrot
Updated
The HD and asterisk labels on Cult of the Party Parrot are informal tags, not formal categories. "HD" appears to mark a higher-definition version of a parrot animation, while an asterisk (*) sits next to selected variants, likely flagging special or notable entries. The site itself does not explain either label, and the markings are inconsistent across the list, so they are best read as loose editorial notes rather than a documented system.
What the page actually shows
The site presents a single long list of parrot names under the heading "PARTY OR DIE," with the instruction "(click parrot to play animation)." Names range from plain entries like "Parrot" and "Bored Parrot" to tagged ones such as "Parrot HD," "Reverse Parrot HD," and "Conga Line Parrot HD *." The tags follow no visible rule: some HD entries carry an asterisk, some do not, and many variants appear with no tag at all.
The HD label
- Most likely meaning: a higher-resolution rendering of the same animation, so it looks sharper on larger displays.
- What it is not: a separate animation. The base name (e.g., "Conga Line Parrot") stays the same; HD is an attribute of that entry.
- Practical effect: if you are choosing between a plain and an HD version of the same parrot, expect the same motion with cleaner output. If you only need a small icon, either works.
The asterisk label
- Most likely meaning: a flag for a variant the maintainers considered special, notable, or worth calling out.
- What it is not: a license marker, a required-attribution tag, or a difficulty rating. Nothing on the page states what the asterisk stands for.
- Practical effect: treat it as a hint that the entry is distinctive, not as a rule about how you may use it.
Why the labels are inconsistent
The list reads like a community-maintained collection that grew over time: entries were added by different people, in different batches, with different conventions. That explains why "Parrot HD" and "Parrot" can coexist, why some HD entries are starred and others are not, and why a few names (like "Norwegian Blue Parrot HD *") stack both tags. Reading the labels as informal tags matches the evidence better than assuming a hidden taxonomy.
How to use this when picking a parrot
- Find the base name first. Scan for the animation you want (e.g., "Shuffle Parrot"), then check whether an HD or starred version exists nearby.
- Prefer HD when display size matters. For a large screen, slide, or video capture, the HD entry is the safer pick.
- Don't read the asterisk as permission or restriction. If you plan to reuse an animation, the label tells you nothing about rights; check the project's own repository or terms instead.
- Click to verify. The page says clicking a parrot plays its animation, so confirm the motion matches the name before you commit to it.
Common sticking points
- Assuming HD means a different animation. It usually does not; compare the base names.
- Assuming the asterisk means "featured" or "official." The page gives no such definition, so treat any interpretation as a guess.
- Expecting a legend. None is provided, and the inconsistency suggests none was ever intended.
If you need a definitive answer on what a specific tag means, the site's own source or repository is the place to look; the page text alone does not settle it.