Different types of parrots

The main species of parrots are:

Large-sized Parrots:

Amazon parrots – medium to large in size. They are mainly green colored with patches of yellow, red, and blue on their tail, wings, and head. They often chatter when there are strangers around and possess very loud voices. The older male Amazons like the hawk-headed parrots can be aggressive.

Cockatoos – compared to Amazons – most of these are big. They are extremely intelligent, sensitive, and nervous birds. They possess erect crests that is lowered and raised at will. They may look cuddly and cute, but adult cockatoos can inflict painful bites if they are not properly trained. Cockatoos demand and require constant attention and are difficult to take care of.

African Gray Parrots are medium to large in size. They are overly sensitive but very intelligent birds. When strangers are around, they are very quiet, however, they can be extremely loud but do not create noise nuisance. Hand-reared parrots are very prone to feather plucking.

Macaws are the largest sized parrot species. The smaller macaws, like Hahn’s and the yellow-collared, make good pets, but are noisy. They are active, inquisitive and often very mischievous parrots. They can learn to talk and can be very chatty. Their powerful beaks can damage many items around the house, including furniture and can even crush nuts. They are not very suitable for homes with young children. Large Macaws may also require more space instead of just a bird cage.

If you have large birds, such as the above-mentioned as pets, one should go for a large parrot cage. This should have a bar spacing of one or more inches as inappropriate spacing can result in injury to the bird.

Medium sized Parrots:

Conur

es are found in South Africa and are very confident and active birds. Sun yellow and bright orange conures, and blue-crowned and Patagonian conures have very loud and piercing voices. They are extremely curious, but very entertaining too. They can talk but possess squeaky thin voices when they try to emulate human speech. Conures are happy to sleep in roosting boxes placed inside the bird cage.

If you have these medium-sized birds, as pets, you should go for parrot cages which have a bar spacing of a half-inch to 5/8 inch.

Small-sized Parrots:

Parakeets are mostly found in Australia and Asia and are leaf-green colored, and are ground-feeders, and spend most of the time on the bird cage floor. Unlike other parrot species, they are quiet birds, although they are very active and social creatures. They live in a large flock and are usually kept as a flock in an aviary. Parakeets are independent birds and do not mix or bond well with humans. They respond to training but are poor mimics and imitators of human voices and speech.

Lovebirds are active and small parrots with short tails and come from Africa. They are usually kept as pets in pairs, as they rarely bond with human beings as many other parrot species do. They emit shrill sounds and can voice calls at a high volume, but they are unable to copy or imitate human speech. Lovebirds are mostly kept in an aviary, or as a pair in a bird cage, instead of in the company of other birds.

Cockatiels and budgies are the commonest parrot-like birds, and they are from Australia. Budgies are bright green in color with a fine scale-like pattern of white and black markings, but now they come in a variety of myriad colors due to selective breeding over generations. Budgies are easy to keep as pets, but require lots of attention and time with its owner/keeper if they are kept alone. They can talk and learn many phrases and words and make sounds in small, squeaky voices. Budgies are very busy and active birds. Cockatiels are large birds and they are good pets. They are naturally gray with some white on their wings, and orange-yellow patches on their head. They can learn to talk but are loud with harsh voices. They are highly busy and active birds and can be easily taught to obey some commands and requests.

If you have a small parrot such as one of the above-mentioned, you probably require one of the medium sized parrot cages having a half-inch or less bar spacing. One should always get as big a parrot cage as possible as long as he takes care of choosing one with an appropiate bar spacing and orientation.

As with most other birds, parrots enjoy bird toys as they are not just fun but neccessary for all species of parrots, large or small. These toys help keep their minds challenged, their beaks busy and keep them entertained. So make sure to purchase an array of different bird toys for your parrot to enjoy.

Shop and buy small, medium, or a large bird cage for you pet parrot and pet birds. All types and sizes of parrot cages and bird toys for your pet birds – http://www.birdcagesrepublic.com/

How to train your parakeet to trust your hand; step1.
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The absolute basics to successfully breed four different types of the most popular pet birds. Part 1

Sexing your birds can sometimes be a bit hit and miss as not all have obvious differences between the two sexes. Adult male (cock) budgies will have a blue cere (the small flesh-like part above their beak (looks like nostrils) whereas the adult female (hen) budgie has a brown or tan-like cere, all juvenile budgies will have a pale blue cere until fully fledged. Bengalese (society) finches are very difficult to sex and best left to an avian professional (or you could just take your chances with a few and hope some pair up); the only really obvious trait is that a male will sing whereas a female will not (again not strictly true as hen birds can sometimes turn out a few pleasant notes, but the cock bird is much more efficient with his vocal chords). Normal zebra finches are generally easier to sex as the cock bird will have red or orange cheeks whereas the hen bird will not. As for cockatiels; well to be honest with you, I haven’t got a clue and just have to take my chances, an avian professional will be more able to help. With many other breeds, especially the many types of parakeets (small parrots) the male is often more brightly coloured than the female, but not in every case.

Firstly any birds you wish to breed should be in good health as raising chicks can be an exhaustive task and unfit birds would be unable to achieve it successfully.

Secondly your birds are going to require some sort of nest box, loads are available at very reasonable prices (or you could make your own), more info below.

Also you will have to ensure that there will be sufficient heat for your birds to breed and raise chicks, not excessive heat but enough for them to be comfortable.

Plus your birds will need a good regular supply of various foods to help them keep up their strength and feed their offspring.

Finally, certain nesting materials will be required for your birds to use.

So lets start at the beginning shall we; keep an eye on your birds to make sure that they display no signs of ill health or weakness. Of course the birds you hope to breed will have to be fully fledged and adult, this should go without saying. If you only have an opposite sex pair in a cage or small aviary don’t assume that they will want to breed, some just don’t fancy each other or are not ready. If however you have a large communal (or mixed) aviary your chances of breeding success will be much improved. Unless you plan to breed for the show bench (this requires much more attention) then you should allow your birds to choose their own mates. Most of the commonest birds kept as pets are monogamous by nature, that means they will pair for life and the same pair will mate year after year, there are exceptions of course but as a general rule monogamy is in where your pet birds are concerned. You will notice a paired couple in your mixed aviary as they will follow each other around and stick together, and an act known as ‘billing’ will occur often between the pair. Billing can be described as kissing, your birds will effectively ‘kiss’ each other with their bills (beaks), imitating the act of feeding each other (which of course they will actually do once nesting takes place).

This subject and others are covered more extensively in my new ebook coming soon. So for more information or to reserve your copy please email me.

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New Zealand 1962 Birds/Health/Parakeet 2v set (n20703)

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Parrot Types

Parrot Families

All parrots, of whatever parrot types or breeds they are, belong to the scientific order Psittaciformes. That scientific order is further broken down into two different parrot families: Cacatuidae and Psittacidae.

The Cacatuidae family includes only the Cockatoo, a bird that is native to Australia and islands near that continent.

The second parrot family, the Psittacidae, includes all of the true parrot types.

Cockatoos

To most people, the cockatoo is a large white parrot with a feathered head crest that it can lift high in regal splendor. That is, however, only one of the parrot types in this family. There are 21 different cockatoos, and not every one is white.

1. The palm cockatoo is mostly dark gray, with red cheek patches below the eyes â?? cheek patches that change to a deeper red when the bird becomes excited or alarmed.

2. The male gang-gang cockatoo is dark gray with a cherry red head and red crest. This parrot type is often called the red-headed cockatoo.

3. The Major Mitchellâ??s cockatoo is often called a pink cockatoo due to its soft pastel pink shade.

4. The cockatielâ??s plumage is mid-grey on top, lighter grey underneath. It has an orange cheek patch, and a prominent white blaze on its wings. It has a much longer tail than the other cockatoos have.

So Cockatoos are not always a white parrot type, and not all cockatoos are the same in build.

True Parrots

This family includes all of the other commonly-known parrot types. The list that follows is not intended to be exhaustive, but in this family, you will find parrot types such as these:

1. African Greys: This is said to be the most intelligent of all the parrot types. A large gray parrot with a red tail, some of these bird have vocabularies approaching 1,000 words or more.

2. Amazons: This popular parrot type includes about 27 sub-types. Most are large, affectionate, and predominantly green.

3. Budgies: Officially known as a parakeet or budgerigar, this parrot type is small and colorful. It is one of the most popular parrot pets.

4. Conures: This parrot type seems to be a group of large parakeets. With long tails and strong beaks, these â??clownsâ? come in a variety of colors.

5. Eclectus: Eclectus Parrots are unusual in their coloring. On the one hand, males are bright green, with beaks like bright candy corn, tails and wings of blue or red. Females, on the other hand, have red heads, blue breasts, and the same red or blue wings and tails. In place of the candy corn look, they have black beaks.

6. Lovebirds: Lovebirds are a small, stocky parrot type â?? among the smallest in the world. Many are green, sometimes with red faces or eye rings.

7. Macaws: Native to South America, this is the largest parrot type in wingspan and length. The blue and gold macaw is especially beautiful.

8. Parrotlets: These may look like parakeets at first glance, but this small parrot type has a broader body and tail than the parakeet.

9. Pionus: There are many parrot types under the name Pionus parrot, and this larger, quieter parrot comes in many varieties of color.

10. Quakers: This parrot type is often called a Monk Parrot or Grey-breasted Parakeet. It is a name that comes from facial feathering that resembles an old-fashioned Quaker costume.

There are many more parrot types than this article can list or discuss, even in a surface manner. You will find muc more information in your library or bookstore.

Best Parrot Types for Childrenâ??s Pets

A final question is this: â??What types of parrots are there that would make good childrenâ??s pets?â?

Many children are drawn to large parrots because of their colors or their reputation for talking well, but the large parrot types are not good pets for children. They require firm handling and training, and do well as pets only when the owner has had experience first with smaller parrots.

The best parrot type for a childâ??s pet is the Budgerigar, aka budgie or parakeet. The small Budgerigar requires the least amount of care, and is easily trained to talk and do tricks. Budgies that are young, or those that have no cage mate, will learn most readily.

By: Anna Hart