Various parrot species can adapt to home living, and choosing one can often be difficult. In this review, we'll explore the most popular ones to help you choose the parrot breed that best suits your personality, living conditions, and other criteria.
How many species of parrots are there in the world?
They count more than 300 species and 80 genera of parrotsAll members of the parrot family are distinguished by a strong, curved beak, brightly colored plumage, and a characteristic pair of toes—two pointing forward, two backward. Many can imitate the human voice. Their diet consists primarily of fruits, vegetables, and grains.
Half of the world's parrot species live on the Australian continent.Corellas, cockatoos, budgerigars, and many others live there. About a third of the species are concentrated in Central and South America, including macaws, wedge-tailed parrots, and Amazons. A slightly smaller number are found in South Asia and Africa. Parrots typically inhabit forests, but some species prefer open areas, such as some Australian species. These include the ring-necked macaw and the New Zealand kea, and also live in the mountains.
Small parrots
Among the small species of parrots bred in captivity are:
Wavy
WavyThese parrots are small in size, weigh only 30–45 gramsThey are inexpensive, docile, and enjoy human interaction. They have beautiful plumage in a variety of colors: green, blue, yellow, and white. With regular training, many can remember over 200 words. However, not all representatives of this breed can imitate human speech. Therefore, it is not recommended to buy them for this reason alone. Budgerigars are recommended for beginning breeders, as they are easy to care for and can be kept in a small cage. In captivity, they can live 8-15 years.
- Lovebirds
So interesting They got their name due to their great affection for each otherLovebirds choose a mate for life and remain faithful to them. This touching sight is often seen: lovebirds sitting tightly huddled together. These parrots, with their bright, cheerful plumage, grow to a small size of about 15 cm and weigh approximately 50 g. They are easy to care for, easily tamed, and have a lively and active nature, making them fascinating to watch. However, they are not trainable and do not remember words. In captivity, they can live up to 20 years.
It is not advisable to keep lovebirds together with budgies, as the former will bully the latter.
Medium-sized birds
Among the pets we can find:
- Cockatiel
These parrots are medium sized, reach 30 cm in heightThey weigh approximately 100 grams. In Russia, they are the second most popular domesticated bird, second only to the budgerigar. A distinctive feature of the cockatiel is its crest on its head and gray plumage with a "blush" on its cheeks. This parrot species is very social, enjoys human company, and is playful. However, it is not easily trained, although with patience, it can learn a few phrases. Peaceful and quiet, it is suitable for beginning bird lovers. It can be kept alongside budgerigars. They live for about 30 years.
- Rosella
The plumage of the rosella is very bright and multi-colored, they have a good-natured characterThey adapt quickly to captive life and are very sociable. By forming a trusting relationship with their human, they become part of the family. Rosellas are most often bred as pets because they are easy-to-care-for and, with proper care, can live quite a long time—up to 20 years. Rosellas cannot speak, but they will sing with pleasure. They have a pleasant voice and a good musical memory.
Large parrots
Among the large birds, the following species are capable of living in captivity:
- Ara
These beauties grow large, reaching a height of up to 90 cm. the plumage is very bright and variegatedMacaws require special housing conditions and increased attention. It's worth noting that these birds are very noisy, and their screams may not be to everyone's liking. Keeping them in a cage all day is not recommended. To keep them entertained, provide them with plenty of toys, but avoid small parts they might swallow. Their powerful beaks can cause them to bite painfully, potentially even causing the loss of a finger. Therefore, be careful if the parrot is untamed and there are small children in the house. Macaws are easily trained, but they do not speak, and live for about 50–60 years.
Due to its size and noisy nature, the parrot is not very suitable for keeping at home; it is better for it to live in a zoo or in a circus, where it can gain fame as an excellent performer.
- Cockatoo
These birds are divided into subspecies, they come in pink and black, but are more often white. These large birds, ranging from 30 to 60 cm, require a lot of space, roughly the size of a small kitchen. If tamed, cockatoos are kind and friendly; if not, problems are possible—they can be noisy and loud. They love to play. Thanks to their powerful beaks, they can pick locks, thereby demonstrating ingenuity, and can also crack nuts and even cut wire. Cockatoos, like macaws, can display various artistic talents, but they don't like to talk.
Distinctive The characteristics of cockatoos are A distinctive, high crest of a contrasting color on the head and a loud, unpleasant, raspy voice. The cockatoo is not suitable for beginners; this bird is for experienced breeders.
- African greys
These birds reach 33 cm in length and weigh 500 grams. Jaco do not have bright plumage, but they are very intelligent. Grey parrots are considered bored when living with other small parrot species, so they require the company of their own kind or a human companion. An adult Grey parrot is equivalent in intelligence to a five-year-old child. They are easily trained, capable of developing an extensive vocabulary, and capable of imitating the human voice. This parrot species requires exercise and should not be kept in a cage all day. Solitude is not the best companion, as it can cause the parrot to pluck its feathers. This breed requires an experienced bird lover. In captivity, Grey parrots can live up to 70 years.
- Amazons
Parrots able to win hearts with their playful and cheerful nature, as well as an excellent talent for mimicry, allowing them to imitate various sounds. These birds also have a good memory and are very emotional. There are 29 species of this parrot worldwide. They reach 45 cm in length and have a fairly stocky build.
The Amazon's distinguishing characteristic (with some exceptions) is its green plumage, which is distinguished by bright spots on the wings, tail, or head. These characteristics give the ability to identify this species of parrotThey belong to the group of short-tailed parrots, which shares a notable trait: all its members are extremely social. The Amazon lives for about 45 years.
- Alexandrine parakeet
Bird is not popular with breeders, but it deserves attention. In the wild, it lives in large flocks in tropical trees. The bird is large, reaching 60 cm in length, with a wingspan of up to 20 cm. With proper care in captivity, it can live up to 40 years. The Alexandrine parakeet is green in color, distinguished by pink and black rings around its neck and a powerful, bright red beak. It has a friendly and peaceful nature. It is highly intelligent, communicates well, and quickly bonds with humans, learning to speak from them.
So, we got acquainted with different breeds of parrots, found out that these birds can become pets, because they are very sociable and nice.
