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Frequently
Asked Questions about Parrots
1. What is
a parrot?
A group of unusually brightly colored arboreal birds with hooked
bills and zygodactyl feet (two toes forward and two back) adapted
for life in the canopy. Shape varies from pointed-wing, long tail
macaws and Aratinga parakeets to the broad winged, short tailed
parrots. Size ranges from the large 3-foot Ara macaws to palm-sized
parrotlets.
2. What do parrots eat?
Parrots feed primarily on fruits and seeds, often using their
feet to lift food to their mouths. At the park we feed them a wide
variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in the morning (often with
whole wheat bread) and a mixture of seeds and nuts in the afternoon.
3.
Where do parrots live?
Parrots occur widely in the tropical and southern temperate areas of the world.
They are found in Central and South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The
spectacularly colored macaws and the Green Amazon parrots are found only in the
New World.
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4. How do parrots raise their young?
They usually nest in hollows in trees, though some parakeets carve
cavities in termite nests, and some large macaws utilize cavities
in rock walls. The pairs lay 2-7 white eggs and incubation times
vary from 22-28 days for Amazons to 26-30 days for the macaws.
The eggs are
laid and hatch in 2-4 day intervals giving the first chicks a
competitive edge in survival. The hen initially spends most of
her time in the nest brooding, cleaning, and feeding the chicks
with regurgitated food gathered by the male. Later as the young
mature both parents are active in food gathering.
Time spent
in the nest before “fledging”, or first
flight, varies with the size of the species. Normally
only
one or two nestlings fledge successfully.
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5.
How long do parrots live?
The small parakeets and parrotlets live only 10 to 20 years, the amazons live
40 to 60 years, and the larger macaws may surpass 100 if well cared-for in
captivity.
Survival time in the wild is considerably shorter.
6.
What are threats to parrots in the wild?
Hunting – Parrots are still hunted for food
in some areas of less developed nations like Honduras, though
worldwide, this problem is relatively small. |
Pet Trade – Parrots for the pet trade is a
serious problem. The market may be local or international,
though movement
of wild
caught birds between countries has been radically reduced
by the CITES Accord of 1973 (Convention on International
Trade in
Endangered
Species). The survival rate of wild caught birds exported
illegally is thought to be as low as 10%.
| Habitat
Destruction – Parrots need large areas of intact
forest to survive. Thus habitat destruction is the most
serious threat to the continued presence of many parrot
species in the wild. Critical nesting sites as well as
food sources can be quickly lost by burning, deforestation,
and land development. In Honduras, population encroachment
into natural reserves and land development in delicate
zones such as the Bay Islands can rapidly reduce parrot
populations. |
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The extensive
burning that occurs in the drier months throughout Central America
is very destructive as these are also peak nesting months for
the birds.
To learn more, click
here for a list of parrot-related websites.
Bird
FAQ's > Parrot FAQ · Parrots
In Captivity · Parrot
Care · Birding List
Projects > Bird
Bank: Informative Resource Center
Captive Breeding Program · Ancient
Maya Connections
Scarlet Macaw Project · Honduran
School Programs
Connect With the World · Macaw
Mountain Future Plans
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