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Parrots make the world more colorful and fun. With their beautiful, dazzling feathers, they decorate the landscapes.
In addition to being great communicators, mimics, loyal companions and doing fantastic work for the ecosystem.
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There are over 350 species of parrots on Earth. To be classified as parrots, birds must have curved beaks and zygodactyl feet.
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THE FASCINATING WORLD OF SHARKS
Characteristics that birds have: four toes on each foot, with two toes facing forward and two facing backward.
Birds of all sizes
Parrots come in many different shapes and sizes. Most live in the warm climates of the southern hemisphere.
The smallest species is the yellow-faced pygmy parrot, found in New Guinea and New Britain. It weighs between 10 and 15 grams and measures 8.5 centimeters.
The largest parrot in the world, the South American hyacinth macaw, measures between 90 and 100 centimeters.
And the heaviest is the nocturnal kakapo of New Zealand, which is flightless and weighs up to 4 kilograms, the same as the weight of a domestic cat.
They are eaters and eco protectors
Their diet consists of fruits, flowers, seeds, berries, nuts and small insects, although this can vary between species and regions.
Parrots' beaks allow them to crack open nutshells, while their strong tongues help them reach the seeds.
Everything they eat falls to the ground, making them play an important role in the ecosystem.
The fallen fruits and undigested seeds in their droppings regenerate forests.
Their food scraps help feed smaller animals that live on the ground.
Parrot droppings are important for the environment, nourishing the soil that supports the growth of forests and grasslands.
Feathers are used for protection
The colors of their feathers, in addition to being beautiful, play an important role in the lives of these birds.
Because they are formed by a pigment that is resistant to bacteria.
Happy Families Animals
Parrots are monogamous, as most species have only one mate for life.
African grey parrots are ready to find a mate between 3 to 5 years old.
From there they settle together in their own tree among large flocks of up to 10,000 birds.
They lay eggs once or twice a year, with up to four eggs in each clutch.
The female incubates the eggs, while the male parrot partner feeds her.
They stay in the nest for about 12 weeks and then join their parents and family group for several years.
However, not all of them build their nests in trees. Some species lay their eggs in tunnels and rock cavities.
The species, golden-shouldered parrot from Australia, does so in termite mounds.
Parrots have long lives
The life expectancy of some species may be similar to that of humans.
Kakapos can live up to 95 years and scarlet macaws between 40 and 50 years.
Parrot predators include: people, birds of prey (such as hawks, eagles and owls), snakes, wild cats (such as jaguars and ocelots), monkeys and bats.
To defend itself, the parrot flies away. It fights with its strong beak and claws to try to escape.
One defense tactic they use is to remain silent and then suddenly make a loud noise to scare them.
They are social and great communicators
Parrots, in addition to being social, are great communicators. They use their tail feathers and voices to convey messages.
They love to imitate other animals and can even build vocabularies of human words.
To communicate with others, they can use a variety of screams, chirps, whistles and even kissing sounds.
Illegal trade
Due to their beauty and intelligence, parrots are sold illegally.
This causes a decrease in their numbers in nature and unbalances the ecosystem.
Preserve the parrots
With your help, we can end the sale of parrots in the wildlife trade, just by not collaborating with it.
Pets
Their ability to talk makes these animals great pets, but only acquire them legally.
Never support the illegal trade of wild animals. When rescuing one of them, you must treat them with great love and care.
Tips for entertaining domestic parrots
These tips are to keep your parrot busy and happy:
- Add a new toy to his house at least once a month, which can be colored pieces of wood.
- They love mirrors, so hanging one or two in their cage will make them very happy.
- Reading a book, or the news out loud will please you.
- The cage always comes with a perch, so put more there, and a swing, essential for his happiness.
- They must spend many hours outside their cages, so there is nothing better than a perch installed in a place close to people, such as the living room.
- Your pet will love the TV animation.
- Meet World Animal Protection and her work with animals.
