Parrots: Facts About Parrots

We all know that parrots make popular pets. The ones commonly seen in homes are macaws, Amazon parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, and cockatoos. They have been popular as pets and companions throughout history owing to their intelligence, charisma, color, and musical abilities. Interesting facts about parrots dictate that parrots are amongst the most intelligent birds. The ability of some parrot species to imitate human voices, has fascinated people for centuries.

Interesting Facts About a Parrot

• Among the amazing facts is that there are roughly more than 350 species of the birds that are referred to as parrots. They include macaws, Amazons, lorikeets, lovebirds, cockatoos, African Grey parrots and many others.
• A feature we are familiar with, are the strong curved beaks that all of them have. Other characteristic features include four toes on each foot (two pointing forwards and two projecting backwards), an upright stance, and strong legs.
• A shade of green is often described as 'parrot' green. Most of these brightly colored birds are predominantly green, with dashes of other bright colors, though a few species are a palette of many colors. The beautiful cockatoo species are largely white or black, with a distinctive mobile crest of feathers on the top of their head.
• A parrot's diet comprises fruits, seeds, flowers, nuts, buds, and some small creatures such as insects. Lories and lorikeets are specialized feeders of flower nectar and soft fruits. They are more of seed predators than seed dispersers. Many species are observed consuming fruit only to get to the seed.
• The development of the parrot's large and powerful bill, can primarily be attributed to opening and consuming seeds. Seeds form such an integral part of their diet that parrots know how to remove seed coats and other fruit parts that contain protective poisons, prior to ingestion. Several species in the Americas, Papua New Guinea and Africa eat clay, which soaks up toxic compounds from the gut.
• One of the interesting facts for kids to remember is that they are the most variably sized bird order. Most of them nest in enclosed spaces, either tree hollows or cavities dug into cliffs, banks or the ground, in which they lay white eggs. Only the Monk Parakeet and five species of agapornis lovebird actually build nests in trees. Three Australian and New Zealand ground parrots nest on the ground.
• It is able to exert tremendous biting pressure. Parrots that eat seeds have strong tongues, which they use to manipulate seeds, or position nuts in the bill.
• The Cockatoo parrot species has a mobile crest of feathers on the top of its heads, which it raises as a means of display. Among fun facts about parrots is that the cockatoo is the only parrot that can do these displays.
• They have a direct, strong flight. Most species are perched or climbing tree canopies when not flying. Parrots use their bills for climbing. They grip the branches or other supports with their beaks. They frequently walk with a rolling gait on the ground.
• They can be found all over the world, especially in warm climates. The greatest diversity of parrots is found in Australasia, Central America, and South America.
• Apart from a few exceptions, they are monogamous. They do not have any territories other than their nesting sites. Among the parrots and cockatoos, a strong bond exists between individuals of a pair, and they maintain this closeness even during the non-breeding season, when they may join larger flocks.

Disturbing facts are that some parrot species are highly endangered. This is mostly due to the hunting of wild parrots for pet trade, as well as habitat loss and competition from invasive species. At present, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) bans the sale of any wild-caught species.