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Home
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> Issue 11: February 2005 > Did You Know?:
What Makes a Parrot a Parrot?
Did You Know?
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What Makes a Parrot a Parrot?
by Krista Menzel and Alayne Rueber
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Psittaciformes is a medium-sized
order of birds comprised of several families, numerous genera,
over 350 species, and hundreds of sub-species.
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Parrots have large, broad heads with short
necks, and stout bodies with a tail.
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Parrots have thick, powerful beaks with
the lower jaw mandible fitting up under the top one —
thus the name "hookbill." They are distinctive
in that their upper mandible is hinged at the joining to
the skull, which gives it more maneuverability than in other
birds. All parrots — from budgies to macaws —
have strong bites and can be destructive chewers.
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Most parrot species have thick muscular
tongues that allow them to manipulate food items easily
in their mouths. The exceptions are the lories and other
nectar-feeding parrots, which have longer, thinner tongues
adapted for collecting nectar and pollen from flowers.
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Peach-faced Lovebirds are one of
over 350 species of parrots, all of which share some
similar traits. |
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Parrots are "zygodactyl"
— their feet have four toes, with two pointing forward and two
pointing backward to facilitate climbing. Many parrot species
pick up food and other objects with their feet.
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Parrots are not domesticated animals.
Only a few species (e.g., Budgerigars and Cockatiels) are more
than a few generations removed from the wild.
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Parrots are prey animals. Many
of their behaviors are responses to their sense of danger, such
as their frantic reaction to being grabbed from above with a towel
or their fear of hoses and other snake-like objects.
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Parrots have eyes on either side
of their head, giving them almost 360-degree vision to watch for
predators.
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Parrots live socially in pairs
and flocks.
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Parrots are highly intelligent.
They are busy for many hours each day in the wild, seeking food,
socializing with flockmates, raising chicks, and avoiding predators.
Captive parrots require lots of toys, activities, and interaction
with people or other birds to maintain their mental health.
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Parrots communicate through complex
vocalizations that they learn from their family and flock. Some
parrots learn to mimic non-parrot sounds, like the human voice.
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Parrots are cavity nesters. Most
excavate or take advantage of hollows in trees to raise their
young. Quaker Parrots build large community nests from sticks.
A few unusual species nest on the ground.
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Parrots are "altricial"
when they hatch, meaning that they are completely helpless and
rely on many weeks or months of parental care before they can
fend for themselves.
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In most species, both parrot parents
help feed, protect, and socialize their young.
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