What Makes a Parrot a Parrot?

Parrots are classified as a type of bird, belonging to the family known as psittacines.

There are somewhere between 350 to 400 species of parrots, which can generally be divided into three main categories:

• The Psittacidae ('true' parrots)
• The Cacatuidae (cockatoos)
• The Nestoridae (New Zealand parrots)

The most commonly known parrots are:

• budgies,
• cockatoos,
• rosellas,
• loris,
• conures,
• African grays,
• lovebirds,
• senegals,
• jardines,
• ringnecks,
• amazons, and
• macaws.

You may also have heard them referred to as 'hook-bills', due to the hook-like shape of their bills.

Generally, parrots can be found in most regions where there is a warm or tropical climate, in particular South America and Australasia. They are believed to have existed at least 54 million years ago, when the first acceptable fossils were discovered in Denmark, Europe.

The parrot possesses the widest array of colors within all bird species.

The color you are most likely to think of is green, and you are right in that it is the most common, but some, for example the Amazon parrot, have complementary colors of red, blue or yellow which intensify their physical beauty.

The Cockatoo on the other hand come in shades of white, black, or a light pink.

In terms of size, they can range from a length of 8cm, namely the Buff-faced Pygmy Parrot, to the Hyacinth Macaw, which can reach lengths of 1 meter. They are familiarized by their strong, hook-shaped beaks, which are vital to the birds when they climb, feed, or build nests for their young.

The tongue is also very powerful and is used to position nuts and seeds so that the right pressure can be given when using the beak. They tend to have a large head with the eyes placed on the side, which gives them a great advantage in peripheral vision.

Like other birds, a parrot has four toes, the difference being that unlike other birds, the parrot has two facing forward and two backward as opposed to three forward and one backward. This is thought to give them a better hold on things. Cockatoos have what is called a crest of feathers on the top of their heads that may resemble a Mohican, only it can be raised and retracted at will.

A parrot's diet is mostly made up of nuts, seeds, fruits, nectar and some will occasionally eat on small insects.

Their intelligence is shown in their ability to understand their human companions. Imitating human voices, singing, and performing various tricks are quite usual of a parrot's capability and is perhaps the reason why they are a popular choice of pet.

In the wild, they group together in what is known as a 'flock', in which they are very vocal amongst the rest of the flock, giving justice to their interactions with humans in captivity.