Facts About Parrots

Parrots are intelligent and colorful birds that come in a variety of sizes. Due to their intelligence and ability to interact, many pet enthusiasts keep parrots in their homes. Parrots are generally found in warm-weather areas. Parrots make good companions due to their lifespan, although some are capable of outliving even their owners.

  1. Species

    • Parrots such as macaws, lovebirds, parakeets and cockatoos are often found in North American homes as pets. These birds are also fairly easy to locate in pet stores. Other parrot species are protected due to their threatened or endangered status. Among these are the Puerto Rican parrot, Yellow Shouldered Amazon, Vasa parrot and St. Lucia parrot. These parrots can not be owned as pets or killed.

    Physical Characteristics

    • Parrots always have curved beaks and four toes per foot. Parrots range in size from 3.5 inches long to just over three feet long. They weigh anywhere from 2.25 ounces to 3.5 lb. Some parrots tend to have a mostly solid color, such as the African gray or Amazon varieties. Others such as macaws and lovebirds have a wider color palate that gives them a more exotic appearance. Some parrots, such as cockatoos and cockatiels, have crests at the top of their heads.

    Intelligence

    • Parrots are well-known for their ability to learn commands and a variety of noises. Due to their intelligence, some parrots can even learn to emulate a human's voice or even sing a song. Macaws can imitate people, though they often refuse to be quiet and need a great deal of attention and interaction to stay happy. Amazon parrots are also capable of speech and intense companionship. African gray parrots also speak and sing, as can several other species.

    Diet and Environment

    • Parrots are omnivores that usually try to find and eat fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds. These are also the types of food to give a pet parrot, though parrots in the wild may seek out insects as well. Parrots are typically not afraid of people, so they even go after the crops of farmers when available. Parrots prefer warmth, so they are naturally found most often in Central and South America, Australia, Asia and Africa.