Parrots, also known as psittacines (pronounced /ˈsɪtəsaɪnz/), are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most warm and tropical regions.

The order is subdivded in three families:
the Psittacidae ('true' parrots),
the Cacatuidae (cockatoos) and the
Nestoridae (New Zealand parrots).

Parrots have a pan-tropical distribution with several species inhabiting the temperate Southern Hemisphere as well. The greatest diversity of parrots is found in South America and Australasia.

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Most parrots are predominantly green, with other bright colors, and some species are multi-colored.

Cockatoo species range from mostly white to mostly black, and have a mobile crest of feathers on the top of their heads. Most parrots are monomorphic or minimally sexually dimorphic. They are the most variably sized bird order in tems of length.

The most important components of most parrots' diets are seeds, nuts, fruit, buds and other plant material, and a few species also eat insects and small animals, and the lories and lorikeets are specialised to feed on nectar from flowers, and soft fruits.

Almost all parrots nest in tree holes (or nestboxes in captivity), and lay white eggs from which emerge altricial (helpless) young. Parrots, along with ravens, crows, jays and magpies, are some of the most intelligent birds, and the ability of some parrot species to imitate human voices enhances their popularity as pets.

Trapping of wild parrots for the pet trade, as well as other hunting, habitat loss and competition from invasive species, have diminished wild populations, and parrots have been subjected to more exploitation than any other group of birds.

Recent conservation measures to conserve the habitats of some of the high-profile charismatic parrot species has also protected many of the less charismatic species living in the ecosystem.

0 comments:

Pages

pet supplies pet parrot pet bird pet food pet store guide African grey parrot Cockatoo species cockatoo guinea pig parrot species pet birds pet directory pet perrot pet shop Eclectus parrot Guinea pigs Umbrella Cockatoos dog owners home pets parrot pet pet shops puppies Amazon parrots Chinchilla Lanigera Chinchillas Chinese Hamster Cockatiels Conure parrot Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches Parrot allergic to chinchillas bird owners buying a pet care for exotic pets cockatoo family dog food dog toys dogs allergies food pet stores kittens parrots pet care pet store African grey Bird Toys Blue-crown parrot Breeding hissing roaches Budgerigar Cacatuidae and Psittaci Catalina macaw Chinchillas as pets Choosing a Macaw Cockatoo Parrot Conure parrot care Degu Degus Kept as Pets Dog grooming Eclectus roratus Exercising Your Pet Female cockatiels Food Not Fit for a Pet Gerbil Gerbil Care Gerbils Grand Eclectus Greater Sulfur Crested Gromphadorhina portentosa Guinea Pig Origins Healthiest Cat Food Heartworm medicine Indian Ringneck Parakeet Indian Ringneck Parrots Indian Ringnecks Leopard Geckos Macaw Macaws Macaws’ voice Madagascar Hissing cockroach Male cockatiels Moluccan Moluccan cockatoo Monk parrots Pet grooming Pet medicines Poicephalus family Polly wants a cracker Quaker parrots Royal Chinchilla Seasonal Health Concerns Senegal parrot Senegal parrots Syrian hamster Vosmaeri Eclectus Wood shavings animal animals anorexia baby parrot stage bird behavior birds birds in captivity blue and yellow macaw parrot blue parrots bone for a pet brush your pet bugs as a pet buy the bird buying hamsters care for parrots cat age cat food cat health cats cats canned food caviomorph rodent chinchilla as pet citten cleaning is the nails cockatoo monsters cockroach pet cruelty against animals cute little puppy cute parrot cutest little pets cutest pets. smallest pets diet of the eclectus difficult cockatoo dog and cat dog breeders dog ear problem dog hamburgers dog health dog supplies dogs health dollhouse domestic breeds entertaining pets exercise program exotic animals exotic pet exotic pet insurance exotic pets family of rodents favorite pet feed cute parrot feed the degus feed your pet guinea pig first cat food to avoid food to the pet fur trades get a parrot getting a parrot glitter-tailed rat golden hamster good cockato great pet great pets grey parrots groom guinea pig groom your pet grooming of your pet grooming supplies guinea pig bedding hamster health of guinea pigs healthy pet hissing noises home cat illegal birds illegal parrot inexpensive pet intelligent birds intelligent creatures intelligent pet kind of parrot cage large dogs lasting allergies little chincha longest-lived Parrots macaw owners macaw parrot majestic birds most brilliant parrots most parrots new cat other types of pets parrot cage parrot food parrot owners parrot supplies parrot talking parrrot stores pat care persian cat pet Gerbils pet Guinea pig pet bed pet bowl pet ear problems pet food manufacturers pet friend pet hamster pet health pet parrots pet perr pet products pet roaches pet stores pet suppl;ies pet supplies list pet supply pet toy supplies pet toys pet's ears pet's paws pet's teeth pets pets allergies pets food pets for children pets for kids pets health pets toys pet’s food pet’s health pet’s teeth pig's diet popular pet puppy purchasing a macaw rats reptile owners right food for your pets rodent scarlet macaw shop pet toys small rodent smart cockatoos social animals square parrot cage squirrel-like animals take care of a guinea pig talking parrots teaching a parrot to speak tips on caring for a guinea pig. guinea pig care toys for dogs train a parrot traveling supplies type of cockroach types of Cockatiels types of cages types of hamsters types of macaws types of parrots vaccinating pets vaccinations veterinarian veterinarian fees veterinary pet visits warm-blooded animals wildot your can your prt toy your puppy
Add to Technorati Favorites


.








.







.






.

Your Pet

Lifestyle Blogs - BlogCatalog Blog Directory