How many parrot species are there

The parrots are a broad order of more than birds. Macaws, Amazons, lorikeets, lovebirds, cockatoos and many others are all considered parrots. Though there is great diversity among these birds, there are similarities as well. All parrots have curved beaks and all are zygodactyls, meaning they have four toes on each foot, two pointing forward and two projecting backward. Most parrots eat fruit, flowers, buds, nuts, seeds, and some small creatures such as insects.

Parrots are found in warm climates all over most of the world. Many parrots are kept as pets, especially macaws, Amazon parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, and cockatoos. These birds have been popular companions throughout history because they are intelligent, charismatic, colorful, and musical.

Some birds can imitate many nonavian sounds, including human speech. The male African gray parrot Psittacus erithacus is the most accomplished user of human speech in the animal world; this rain forest-dweller is an uncanny mimic.

Some parrot species are highly endangered. In other cases, once tame birds have reproduced in the wild and established thriving feral populations in foreign ecosystems. If your bird's feathers are looking a little dull, it might simply be from normal molting. Or it could be a sign of a nutritional deficiency or other medical issue, so consult a veterinarian if anything seems out of the ordinary. The eclectus is one of the few sexually dimorphic parrot species, meaning the males and females have distinct appearances.

Male birds display a vivid green color with red and blue accents while the female birds have red and blue-purple feathers. These birds are generally friendly and easygoing, but they do appreciate a caretaker who can keep them on a regular daily routine.

Physical Characteristics: Primarily emerald green, red and blue under wings, and orange beak male ; primarily bright red, blue on chest and tail, and black beak female. Sun conures have nearly the entire rainbow on their bodies. These captivating birds display red, yellow, and orange on their heads, chests, and wings.

Those colors are offset with green and blue on their tail and flight feathers. Sun conures are often as loud as they are brightly colored. Their calls can be heard from miles away, and they're not shy about vocalizing to express their mood. Physical Characteristics: Bright orange, yellow, and red with highlights of green and blue; black beak and feet; white circles around eyes.

Scarlet macaws are beautiful parrots with red, yellow, and blue feathers. Their beauty can be very tempting for someone looking for a pet parrot, but it's important to consider more than their striking looks. These are large birds that require ample attention and space for exercise.

They can be loud, messy, and moody pets that demand a lot from their caretakers. Physical Characteristics: Vivid red with yellow and blue on wings and tail; white circles around eyes; tan upper bill and black lower bill; black feet. As their name implies, blue-and-gold macaws display bright blue and yellow plumage over most of their body.

They also have accents of rich green. These birds tend to be intelligent and sociable, and they love being the center of attention. But they need ample space to exercise, and they are prone to some ear-piercing vocalizations.

Some parrots like to live in snowy climates. A few cold-weather parrots are maroon-fronted parrots, thick-billed parrots and keas. With their colorful plumage and ability to mimic human speech, parrots are very popular pets. Some parrot pets have escaped their owners and bred in unusual areas. For example, a popular bird in the pet trade, the monk parakeet , a native of subtropical South America, now resides in the United States after some of them escaped and reproduced in the wild.

Most parrots are social birds that live in groups called flocks. African grey parrots live in flocks with as many as 20 to 30 birds. Many species are monogamous and spend their lives with only one mate. The mates work together to raise their young. Parrots throughout the flock communicate with one another by squawking and moving their tail feathers. Some parrots, like the kakapo, are nocturnal. They sleep during the day and search for food at night.

Pet parrots can be incredible if demanding friends, but for people more accustomed to fluffy mammalian companions, they can present some unexpected challenges.

The long-lived, intelligent and highly social birds need especially high amounts of attention and enrichment, or else they can pick up bad habits and find themselves bored and stressed to the point where they pluck out their own feathers. While some pet parrots come from breeders, trade in exotic parrots is big business around the globe, and it contributes significantly to their decline in the wild. Thankfully trafficking in wild birds has been less of a problem in the U.

Now, in honor of the 14th annual National Bird Day , get a little bird-brained with these 14 facts about parrots:. As a famous research subject, the African grey parrot Alex was said to have the intelligence of a human 5-year-old. Now the psittacine tribe can claim another brainy feat: tool use.

Researchers at the University of York and the University of St. Andrews observed captive greater vasa parrots Coracopsis vasa using date pits and pebbles to pulverize cockle shells. Male vasas ate the powder and then offered a regurgitated calcium-rich snack to females before mating.

Be thankful you get chocolates. Like most other birds, parrots have four toes per foot. But instead of the usual three-in-front-one-behind arrangement, parrot toes are configured for maximum grip: two in front and two behind, like two pairs of opposable thumbs. Many parrots are omnivores and will eat pretty much anything—fruit, seeds, nuts, insects and even meat.